KaizumiKaizumi™

VSM Builder

Current-state mapping · lead time vs. process time

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What is a Value Stream Map?

A VSM shows the flow of material and information needed to deliver a product or service to the customer. It reveals the gap between lead time (how long the customer waits) and processing time (actual value-adding work) — the difference is waste.

A real example is already loaded below. Everything on it is editable — click any number and make it yours.
Takt time
30 sec
Lead time
22.8 days
Process time
3.1 min
Value-add
0.03%
INFORMATION FLOWMATERIAL FLOWTIMELINEMichigan Steel Co.2× weeklyProduction ControlWeekly MRPState Street Assembly18,400 pcs/mo2× weekly1× dailyI5 daysI7.6 daysI1.8 daysI2.7 daysI1.2 daysI4.5 daysERPweekly fax loopStamping◉ 1 opC/T1 secC/O1 hrUptime85%Weld #1◉ 1 opC/T39 secC/O10 minUptime100%Weld #2◉ 1 opC/T46 secC/O10 minUptime80%Assembly 1◉ 1 opBOTTLENECKC/T1 minC/O—Uptime100%Assembly 2◉ 1 opC/T40 secC/O—Uptime100%C/O reductionUptime+++++++5 days1 sec7.6 days39 sec1.8 days46 sec2.7 days1 min1.2 days40 sec4.5 daysLEAD TIME22.8 daysPROCESS TIME3.1 minVALUE-ADD0.03%
How to read a value stream map — symbol glossary
Process box
One step where material is transformed. Data box below shows cycle time, changeover, uptime.
Inventory triangle
Material waiting between steps — the biggest source of lead time.
Factory / external
Customer, supplier, or outside party. Sawtooth roof = external source.
Push arrow
Striped arrow: material pushed downstream regardless of need.
Electronic info
Zigzag arrow: orders and schedules sent electronically (ERP, EDI).
Kaizen burst
Where the team plans an improvement to reach the future state.
Timeline ladder
High segments = waiting (days, red). Low segments = processing (seconds, green).
Truck shipment
Deliveries in or out, labeled with frequency.
Supermarket
Controlled inventory the downstream process pulls from — shelves face the supplying process.
FIFO lane
First-in-first-out channel with a capped quantity — sequence is preserved between steps.
Pull / withdrawal
Curved blue arrow: the downstream process pulls only what it needs from a supermarket.

Want an editable copy?

Download the free Value Stream Map template — a worked current-state map plus a full VSM symbol library (supermarkets, FIFO lanes, kaizen bursts) to copy onto your own map. Opens in PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Keynote.

What is a Value Stream Map?

A Value Stream Map (VSM) shows the end-to-end flow of material and information required to deliver a product or service to the customer. It reveals the gap between lead time — how long the customer waits from order to delivery — and processing time — the actual value-adding work. The difference is waste: inventory sitting, batches queuing, information waiting for approval.

VSM is typically the first tool used in a Lean transformation because it gives the team a shared picture of the current state and highlights where improvement efforts will have the greatest impact. Unlike process maps that focus on individual steps, the value stream map captures the entire system including suppliers, customers, and information loops.

When to use this tool

Map the current state before launching a kaizen initiative, entering a new market, or redesigning a fulfillment process. The VSM is also the starting point for designing a future state — once you see where inventory accumulates and where information stalls, you can target specific improvements with tools like the Process Capacity Sheet and Takt Time Calculator.

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