Application of value stream mapping for lean operations and cycle time reduction: an Indian case study

For the last few years almost every manufacturing industry has been trying to get ‘lean’. A headlong rush to offer value to the customers by becoming lean and responsive has created an urgency for researchers and practitioners to apply new tools and techniques to address various wastes. The process of mapping the material and information flows of all components and subassemblies in a value stream that includes manufacturing, suppliers and distribution to the customer is known as value stream mapping (VSM). VSM has proved effective in identifying and eliminating wastes in a facility with similar or identical product routings, such as in assembly facilities. In this paper, an attempt has been made to use VSM as a technique to achieve productivity improvement at supplier end for an auto industry. Both current and future (‘as is’ and ‘to be’) states of supplier shopfloor scenarios are discussed using value stream concepts. This is analysed along with takt time calculations and the application of other gap areas. Finally, gain in production output per person, reduction of work in process and finished goods inventory affecting productivity are also reported.