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Value stream mapping helps you to isolate, communicate, and quantify value vs. waste in a business operation.
Read on to find reliable VSM flowcharting tools below.
Sales and operations are the two most critical factors of any business.
Once the product is ready, you ship it to the customer in exchange for revenue.
Here comes value stream mapping or VSM practice.
What Is Value Stream Mapping (VSM)?
Business management experts consider VSM a key part of lean business methodology.
VSM looks at the business process from the value-adding point of view.
Anything in a business process that does not contribute to revenue-making is waste.
How Does the Value Stream Mapping (VSM) Work?
All the steps in between are considered for value addition and wastage.
For example, if you keep storing eCommerce platforminventoryin a warehouse, it is considered a wastage in VSM.
Additionally, you will find the implementation idea from VSM flowcharting.
When you reduce waste, value addition increases automatically.
In the process, VSM experts and managers use specialized symbols.
SmartDraw has a vast library of these symbols, along with useful explanations.
Most of the shapes come with the industry standard text annotation for VSM flowcharting.
Hence, there is less manual typing.
you could use the time saved in value stream mapping to brainstorm value-addition steps.
It offers a range of VSM-sharing options.
For example, it’s possible for you to create a live link and share it with the collaborators.
Then, the invitees can join online to contribute to perfecting the value stream map.
Other VSM export options are Visio files, PDF, SVG, JPG, and more.
Visual Paradigm
Visual Paradigmis a cloud-based VSM flowcharting tool.
You do not need to install any app to get started with value stream mapping.
The Visual Paradigm VSM editor comes with all the standard VSM symbols you see in any business-grade VSM flowchart.
Also, it contains some additional creative and professional shapes that will add more value to your VSM process.
This online flowcharting tool comes with a vast library of business-grade VSM flowcharts.
Its symbols are pretty self-explanatory, along with detailed information on how to use the app.
However, there is a catch when you prepare to use Microsoft tools for value stream mapping.
You will find the necessary symbols and connectors in the Value Stream Map Shapes stencil.
Simply drag and drop the elements on the Visio canvas and annotate them using text boxes.
The process is time-taking without templates.
It works as anExcel Add-intool to infuse value stream mapping functionalities into Excel standalone installations on Windows computers.
Because Excel gives you real-time access to the business process data on which you draw the VSM.
It is free for business and personal use.
If you need moresticky notes, it’s possible for you to add more.
It requires a lot of practice and flowcharting knowledge to create professional VSM flowcharts.
Next up:Service Blueprint Diagram Explained [+ 5 Resources].
