"Analyzing Value Streams"

Dennis Monroe

Quality

January 2006, pp. 50-56

This article describes a new approach to value stream mapping called Value Stream Attribute Mapping (VSAM). VSAM starts with the widely-used Suppliers-Inputs-Process-Outputs-Customers model that is already commonly used for high-level process mapping. The VSAM approach provides preformatted Microsoft Excel spreadsheets for each of the Suppliers-Inputs-Process-Outputs-Customers areas. The suggested order of completion is Suppliers, Customers, Process, Inputs, and Outputs:

• The Suppliers Module details supplier name; what is supplied; description of the materials, information, and services supplied; delivery frequency; transport mode; and annual value of materials or services.
• The Customers Module details customer name; description of the materials, information, and services supplied; delivery frequency; transport mode; average daily demand; and annual value of materials or services.
• The Process Module template allows for process "tributaries" into the value stream, as well as an expandable number of steps. Tributary and value stream totals are calculated for operation cycle time, setup time, available time, rolled throughput yield, capacity in pieces per day, number of operations, move/store time, and move distance.
• The Inputs Module is primarily composed of the information form the Suppliers Module and the information in the Process Module identifying the process tributary or stream that receives the input.
• The Outputs Module uses much of the data from the Customers Module. Takt time is also computed by individual customer and in aggregate.

The author recommends that at least three subteams should be initially assigned to the completion of the VSAM-one for suppliers, one for customers, and one for process. Companies using VSAM can "expect to complete a mapping activity, either current or future, in less time, with less waste and with more efficient use of team resources."

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