How to eliminate waste in production

Last week, we learned how to map out our processes at a Value Stream Mapping (VSM) workshop with the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership. VSM involves six steps that will help us identify waste and create more efficient processes:

1. Group products, starting with those that have the highest volume, share operations, have the greatest demand, and use the greatest capacity. 
2. Map the current state. Get consensus on the material and information flow. Figure out what data to collect, then collect the data with the team to draw out the current state map.
3. Transition to the future state map. Figure out the customer demand rate, where the new scheduling point is, how to distribute the work to be performed, what activities need to be performed to reach the future state, and if you can implement continuous flow and pull systems.
4. Map the future state. List improvements and future process steps. Estimate the future data and draw the future state map.
5. Create a Kaizen plan. List out the improvements that you need to make.
6. Implement the Kaizen plan. Implement the improvements you just listed out.