During the Lean Six Sigma projects the Black Belts we learn them mapping a value stream, using symbols we understand, we have identified ways to reduce Lead time.
This means that the time spent on value add activities as a % of total time spent is increased,
But we haven’t changed any of the value add activities. We haven’t bought new high tech expensive equipment or tried to get people to work harder, we have simply improved the system.
We haven’t calculated benefits but you get the feeling that the ‘future state’ system will perform better for OTOQD and cost.
We used a volume manufacturing example because it’s easier to visualise value streams with physical things; now let’s look at non-manufacturing.