Value Stream Analysis

During my recent travels, I came upon a somewhat bizarre sight.

Lean is applied within time and space. That's where we "live" and add value, or not.

Mapping, whether it's process mapping or value stream mapping can be powerful stuff. It should be a familiar and trusted weapon within your continuous improvement arsenal.

Let’s set the stage. The team has just completed what many call a flow kaizen – in which the focus is the flow of materials, patients, customers, etc. and information.

Several days ago, during a health care value stream analysis, I was impressed with the team's bias for action.

Model lines (a.k.a. pilot) are a proven method to initiate a lean launch. The model, typically one specific "line" or value stream within a single facility or operation, provides a small, focused and controlled playground for implementing lean.