Value Stream Map: Lean Glossary

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Value Stream Map: What Is It?

A Value Stream Map is the accepted method for mapping a process flow or “Value Stream”.

It starts with the customer in the top right, and a Supplier in the top left corner, and shows the steps in the value stream from left to right.

lean value stream map basic

Value Stream Mapping icons have evolved over the years to include many different Lean tools, such as FIFO Lanes, Supermarkets, rework, inventories or queues, Push, Pull and many others.  For this reason it can seem quite complex, however a Lean practitioner will often argue that with a little practice or experience they are able to see the full process at a glance with the help of these icons.

lean value stream map icons list

Once you’ve added the icons, measures and wastes to your Value Stream Map, it will often look like this:

lean value stream map example

Other practitioners may prefer a Swim Lane Flow Chart.

By David McLachlan

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