Value Stream Mapping and SimulationMarkus Cueva (FlexSim) & Glade Nielson (Lean Horizons)

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Quick PollDo you know what value stream mapping is?

Have you used it in a project?

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Value Stream Mapping is…Visual flow charting toolUsed by Lean practitionersDiagram information and material flow in a

system

Traditionally done with Paper/pencil Sticky notes White board

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FlexSim VSM OriginVSM in graduate level business courseFlexSim better suited for problems

encounteredModel that could:

Utilize standard symbols in VSM Fully useable map in half the time

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FlexSim VSM is…Simple tool to create basic value stream maps:

Quickly Easily And with the advantages of simulation software

Not static More than a snapshot of the system Material and information really flows

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Simulation + VSM can…Show bottlenecks in inventoriesShow complex interdependenciesShow variability found in the real world

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Keep it Simple!Acronym “KISS” = “keep it small and simple”

Used by US military, engineering firms, software developers, etc.

Most systems work best when they’re kept simple, not complicated

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Goal of FlexSim VSMDistill single product or service to its simplest

elements And LEARN more about it

More complicated? Create a simulation model! (Put those FlexSim licenses to use!)

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Normal Kaizen