Manufacturing System Performance Improvement by Value Stream Mapping a Literature Review

A value stream is all the actions (both value added and non-value added) required to bring a product through the main flows essential to every product for the production flow from raw material into the arms of the customer and to design the flow from concept to launch as a lean manufacturing tool. Taking a value stream perspective means working on the big picture, not just individual processes and improving the whole not just optimizing the parts. Value stream mapping is a lean manufacturing technique and was first introduced as an independent methodology by Mike Rother and John Shook. Recording and mapping the processes to measure distances, times, number of workforce involved in the flow will further improve the productivity andquality of goods and service. It also reduces production lead time and WIP inventory. This paper describes the basic overview of manufacturing system performance improvement by VSM and the previous work carried by researchers along with brief review. It is possible to reduce lead time by reducing waste through proper scheduling, better team work, planning, training the workers and awareness in the workforce regarding the global competition. VSM is applicable to any kind of industry for performance improvement.