Application of Value Stream Mapping for Waste Reduction in Make-to-order Environment (An Action Research in a Commercial Printing Company)

Abstract

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-language: FA; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Yagut; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">This article discusses the use of Value Stream Mapping<br />(VSM) in a make-to-order production environment. According to this tool, a<br />practical study carried out about the way of implementation of lean<br />manufacturing in a commercial printing company in an action research basis. The<br />aim of using VSM as a drawing tool of current value stream is to investigate<br />the ways of process improvement and reducing waste. In this study, after<br />mapping the current state value stream for making waste measurement, a detailed<br />root-cause analysis was carried out and various improvement proposals has been<br />identified based on the principles of lean manufacturing especially the<br />continuous flow and low level of work in process and final goods inventory.<br />Because of the importance of waste measurement in different phases of lean<br />implementation in commercial printing companies as low volume high mix<br />production environments, a dedicated deficiency measure was developed.</span>