Value Stream Mapping

MDC is pushing the use of the technique of Value Steam Mapping (VSM) beyond its traditional home in manufacturing to include engineering, product development, program planning and execution, and enterprise analysis.

In cooperation with the Lean Aerospace Initiative, MDC has created The Product Development Value Stream Mapping (PDVSM) and Product Development Transition to Lean (PDTTL) manuals.  They are fact-based, action-oriented tools for transforming off-the-factory-floor processes. Based on years of LAI research in lean product development, they offer extensive academic research, member experience and best practices, used to translate, adapt, and expand value stream mapping concepts to the unique needs of product development processes. Depth is provided where necessary, and notes and references provide source material and justifications for the material. These products are currently available only to LAI member companies, but if you work in the US Aerospace industry it is likely that you company is a member.  More information is available here.

Associated with the above tools are training products using the LEV simulation.  Lean Engineering training translates the basic ideas of lean process improvement to engineering processes, and provides a convincing "gut level" experience in applying lean to an engineering process using the simulation.  To apply Value Stream Mapping methods at the levels of program or company enterprises, custom seminars are available from MDC.  These use the simulation as a practice field, in which students learn by doing.  VSM methods are applied to simulated enterprises to identify constraints and fix problems.  The students leave the seminars with a hands-on feel for how VSM applies to their enterprise, and are ready to use the tools immediately to solve real problems.