Value Stream Mapping
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
A visualization tool used to record the entire flow from raw materials to finished products (or from demand to delivery), focusing on identifying which steps add value and which are waste (waiting, transportation, inventory).
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
Eliminate hidden waste. Draw your workflow, and you will be surprised to find that 90% of the time may be spent on 'waiting for approval' or 'passing documents', with very little time actually creating value.
Anchor fast decisions
Draw material and information flows along the 'current state → future state' path, annotate the time for each step (value-added/waiting), and use data to expose waste (overproduction, inventory, transportation, waiting, defects, over-processing, motion).
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/5Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value-stream_mappingverified
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