AllAboutLean.com – Organize your Industry

On the Different Ways to Measure Production Speed

May 16, 2023September 15, 2015 by Christoph Roser

Harold Lloyd – Safety Last! — Trouble with Times…

The speed of your production system is a key aspect of your manufacturing system, and controlling it is important for the success of your organization. Unfortunately, there are many different and confusing ways to measure the manufacturing speed. Even a simple question on how to call a speed is often confused, with many practitioners using the same term for different measurements, or different terms for the same measurements. This post aims to give an overview of what is out there, and what it is good for.

All About Swim Lane Diagrams

March 8, 2022September 8, 2015 by Christoph Roser

Swimming lanes — All About swim lane diagrams

In my previous posts I described the details of value stream mapping. However, value stream mapping works only for highly linear material and information flows. Unfortunately, many industry processes, especially in administrative or indirect areas, are all but highly linear. To visualize these processes, a new diagram was developed – the swim lane diagram. In this post I will show you how swim lane diagrams work.

Happy 2nd Birthday AllAboutLean.com

February 6, 2024September 1, 2015 by Christoph Roser

Today, AllAboutLean.com turns two years old! Exactly two years ago, on my first day as a professor, I started blogging about my favorite topic: lean manufacturing and its history. It’s been a great time so far! I have learned tons of new things about lean, have had many good interactions with my readers, and have enjoyed writing this blog immensely. Thank you all for the interest in my writing. I hope it helped you organize whatever processes create value for your company and hence also for you! Time for another look back:

All About Spaghetti Diagrams

January 31, 2022August 25, 2015 by Christoph Roser

Eating Spaghetti — Working hard on that diagram …

A spaghetti diagram is a quick and easy way to track distances of parts and people on the shop floor. The name comes from the result looking like a plate of spaghetti. In this post I will explain the details and give some tips and tricks on how to make a good spaghetti diagram.

Practical Tips for Value Stream Mapping

January 31, 2022August 18, 2015 by Christoph Roser

After discussing when to do value stream maps, the symbols, and the basics of value stream mapping, I want to give some more practical tips for value stream mapping. What tools should you use? Do you use a computer (yuck) or a pen and paper (yup)? I’ll also summarize some generally helpful hints in drawing a value stream.

Basics of Value Stream Maps

March 3, 2022August 11, 2015 by Christoph Roser

Knowing the symbols for value stream mapping is only a first step. This is like the difference between knowing the alphabet and writing good stories. There are much more things to consider for generating a good value stream. In this post I will go through the basics of drawing value stream maps. I found it surprising how much detail there is to what in literature is often simply abbreviated to “go out and draw it.”

Overview of Value Stream Mapping Symbols

January 31, 2022August 4, 2015 by Christoph Roser

Speed Limit Signs — Different symbols for the same thing …

Value stream maps are usually drawn using standardized symbols…or that is what most people believe. While there are some symbols that are used pretty much universally, other elements have different symbols in different organizations or by different sources. Other identical symbols are used in a different way by different organizations. And, every day people seem to invent new symbols. In this post I will (try to) give an overview of what is out there, along with my opinion on what I use frequently and what I usually avoid.

When to Do Value Stream Maps (and When Not!)

May 29, 2023July 28, 2015 by Christoph Roser

Futuristic Astronaut Businessman Using Flexible Display Tablet — Why to do value stream maps

Value stream mapping is a method to create a structured image of the material and information flow on the shop floor. You often hear that a value stream map should be the first and last thing to do during a lean project. It sometimes sounds like all you need is VSM and Kaizen and you are on the road to success. This is bollocks! While value stream mapping is sometimes quite useful, it is not a universal tool.