Lean Thinking emphasizes the importance of continuous (i.e., uninterrupted between operations) and rapid (i.e., rapid turnaround times) flow. The fragmented vision of traditional organizations is replaced with a process-based organization that emphasizes the integration of operations to ensure fluidity and continuity in the sequence of decisions and operations.
Value Stream Mapping is a methodological tool for graphically visualizing the value chain of a given process, highlighting areas of inefficiency and redesigning it with a continuous flow perspective. This shifts from a push-type production system to a pull-type system, in which the production of the entire product line is driven by the actual consumption of the finished product by the end customer. Visual management using kanban or—in more complex cases—an electronic signal (the so-called electronic kanban) controls and self-balances the flow.
One of the benefits of redesigning production flows as for value streams is the possibility to get a better (i.e. more precise and simpler) accounting system. Data collection is not done anymore for work centre but for value stream, allocating directly on the cost centre of the product line (or channel) the costs that are 100% linked with such centre and defining proper (and simple) sharing rules for the other types of costs that are common between more streams or even to the whole manufacturing unit.
Elite’s course is aiming to provide the principles by which such value stream accounting can be achieved, discussing different real examples of complexities. Even this course can be designed on specific needs of the customer.
