Are You Following the Right Map?
April 4, 2025We all have Maps we use as tools to help us navigate and better understand where we are. Map creators need to pick what data to focus on, and the type of map they pick often depends on what story they want to tell. The same is true for building maps of your business operations. First, determine what story you want to tell and choose the right type of map to fit what you want to convey.
Modern American Manufacturing makes prevalent use of Value Stream Maps, a building block of Lean Manufacturing. A Value Stream Map (VSM) is a visual action of all the components that are needed to deliver a product/service. It looks at the components individually and as a whole, to eliminate waste and optimize the entire process.
A Value Stream Map is perfectly suited to:
- Display all critical steps in a specific process and quantify the time and volume taken at each stage.
- Show the flow of both materials and information as they progress through the process.
- Identify Work in Process (WIP) inventory.
- Highlight cycle times and total process time.
It’s important to understand that other maps can better fit what you want to communicate about your business operations. Just as there are different types of hammers and screwdrivers, different types of maps. Your mapping efforts may be better suited to use Swim Lane Process Maps. A Swim Lane Process Map is a visual representation that outlines various steps in a process while categorizing who is responsible for each action. Think of it as a swimming pool where each lane signifies a specific department or role, making it easy to identify who does what and when.
Swim Lane Process Maps are useful for:
- Clarifying Roles: Eliminates ambiguity by clearly outlining who is responsible for what, making it easier for team members to focus on their specific tasks.
- Identify Decision Points: Gain understanding of how many decisions are present and how it affects flow and process times.
- Highlight Handoffs and Delays: Visually see how many handoffs (lanes) are necessary to complete a process and how long it takes from start to finish.
- Identify Manual and Automatic Processes: A process with many manual processes is ripe for automation improvements.
Swimlane Process Maps can be easier and quicker to build than Value Stream Maps. I’ve found that one or two people may be able to describe all the steps in a process that a facilitator can capture in a couple of targeted one-on-one sessions. I’ve not found the same to be true in Value Stream Mapping. VSM sessions typically involve more people and take more time to create. If your Business is new to mapping with little VSM experience, you may want to start with Swimlane Process Maps. They can help your organization learn how to leverage mapping to visually represent how your processes, people and systems are interacting.
Ready to optimize your operations? Explore our Operations and Efficiencies services to learn how we can help you build effective business maps.
Kerry Cecil, Operations and Efficiency Technician at KY-MEP, brings over 20 years of experience helping companies improve operational and financial performance. A seasoned project manager and Lean Manufacturing practitioner, he has transformed business operations across manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and financial services industries.
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