What skills do you need for value stream mapping?

1 Process analysis

Process analysis is the ability to understand and document the current state of your production process, including the inputs, outputs, activities, resources, and performance indicators. You need to be able to collect and analyze data, such as cycle times, inventory levels, defect rates, and customer feedback, to identify the sources of waste and inefficiency in your process. You also need to be able to map out your process using standard symbols and formats, such as value stream maps, process flow diagrams, or spaghetti diagrams.

2 Teamwork and communication

Teamwork and communication are essential for VSM, as you will need to involve and engage people from different functions, levels, and locations in your organization. You need to be able to work collaboratively with your team members, stakeholders, and customers, to share information, ideas, and feedback, and to resolve conflicts and issues. You also need to be able to communicate your findings and recommendations clearly and persuasively, using visual aids, reports, and presentations.

3 Creativity and problem-solving

Creativity and problem-solving are the skills that enable you to design and implement improvements to your process, based on the gaps and opportunities you identified in your analysis. You need to be able to generate and evaluate alternative solutions, using tools and techniques such as brainstorming, benchmarking, root cause analysis, or 5 Whys. You also need to be able to test and validate your solutions, using methods such as experiments, simulations, or pilot runs.

4 Lean principles and tools

Lean principles and tools are the foundation of VSM, as they guide you to focus on value creation, eliminate waste, and pursue continuous improvement. You need to be familiar with the core concepts and principles of lean manufacturing, such as customer value, value stream, pull system, flow, takt time, kaizen, or gemba. You also need to be able to apply various lean tools and techniques, such as 5S, kanban, poka-yoke, or SMED, to support your VSM project.

5 Project management

Project management is the skill that helps you plan, execute, monitor, and control your VSM project, ensuring that it meets its objectives, scope, time, budget, and quality standards. You need to be able to define and scope your project, establish roles and responsibilities, set goals and milestones, allocate resources, track progress, measure results, and manage risks and changes. You also need to be able to review and evaluate your project outcomes, document your lessons learned, and sustain your improvements.

Value stream mapping is a valuable skill for lean manufacturing that can help you improve your process performance and customer satisfaction. By mastering these skills, you can conduct effective VSM projects and deliver more value to your organization and customers.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?