Does Value Stream Mapping apply to Job Shops?
If the Flow in the Job Shop was truly unique for every single product produced, there may not be an established, repeatable Value Stream in place to create a map. There are other techniques to use in this case. In most Job Shops, an advanced version of the product family matrix can be used to identify common routings through a plant. Once Job Shop families are identified, they can be mapped, and Future States created. Don’t implement improvements in one Value Stream that cause major problems in another. Implications for Value Stream Mapping Training Value Stream Mapping training is typically conducted over a period of 2-5 days. There should be a mixture of classroom discussion, and practical hands-on mapping in the workshop. This means that the classroom should be very near the workplace, and run during normal production hours so that real mapping can occur. To get the most out of the Value Stream Mapping exercise, the sponsor and facilitator need to select the product families to map.
