Értékárammapping

Értékárammapping, often translated as Value Stream Mapping (VSM), is a Lean management tool used to visualize, analyze, and improve the flow of materials and information within a production process or service delivery system. It is a method for identifying and eliminating waste in a process. VSM maps the current state of a process, showing all steps, both value-adding and non-value-adding, as well as the flow of information and materials.

The primary goal of Értékárammapping is to understand the entire process from the customer's perspective, from the initial request or order to the final delivery. By visually representing the flow, teams can identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, delays, and sources of waste such as overproduction, waiting, transportation, excess inventory, over-processing, and defects. Once the current state is mapped, a future state map is created, outlining the ideal process with the identified waste removed and improvements implemented.

This technique requires a cross-functional team to walk through the process physically or virtually, collecting data on cycle times, lead times, inventory levels, and other relevant metrics. The resulting map serves as a powerful communication tool, fostering a shared understanding of the process and facilitating focused improvement efforts. Értékárammapping is widely used in manufacturing but is also applicable to service industries, healthcare, and software development.