Value Stream Mapping Symbols

This symbol is used to represent customers and suppliers. We can accommodate other information such as demand, shipment details, capacity, etc. along with this symbol.

It is the usual end point and start point for material flow (Supplier and customer).

This is used to show the movement of raw materials from supplier to the receiving dock of the factory. And also the shipments to customer.

This icon represents mode of road transport for shipments from supplier. Also, shipments to our customer.

This icon represents mode of air transport for shipments from supplier. Also, shipments to our customer.

This icon is used to represents the inventory that is accumulated in between each process. i.e., Work In Process (WIP).

This icon represents the storage for raw materials and finished goods (FG).

It shows the electronic flow of communication such as EDI, Internet, intranets, LANs, WANs

It shows the general flow of information from memos, reports, etc. which are in physical form. We can also mention frequency and other important information.

Represents the information that is communicated via. verbal communications

Represents the information that is communicated via. mobile/telephone communications

Represents the computer that is used as a data storage system (if it plays a vital role)

Represents the information that is communicated via. E-mail.

This icon represents the operators in a workstation. We can mention the no of operators along with this symbol.

This is the icon where all the data that is captured is addressed. It includes cycle times, OEE, C/O, Yield%, etc. This is usually place below process box.

It shows the quantity of the inventory that is being pulled from the supermarket, to process in the workstation.

The buffer stock/inventory that is maintained in workstations. Usually, a defined quantity or additional WIP is maintained in workstations to meet the surge in demand or to counter the transportation delays from the upstream processes.

The safety stock/inventory that is maintained in stores/workstations. It is an extra inventory of the finished goods/raw material that is maintained to mitigate the risk of out-of-stocks to meet the customer demand.

Represents the fork lift mode of material movement in material flow process.

Represents the trolley mode of material movement in material flow process.

Represents the workstations/cells available to process the material. We can mention no of work station/cell available along with this symbol.

This is the icon, which represents the first in first out. FIFO is required in the workstation to eliminate the aging of the inventory that is being accumulated in any workstation.

Represents the place where material is stored.

Here, we can mention the value-added time (at lower portion) and non-value-added time (at upper portion) against each process. This helps to track and calculate the total lead time with Value Added Time and Non- value-added time in the Value Stream.

This represents load levelling. Load levelling is used when Muri/Mura is identified in the value stream and also to reduce any large fluctuations to meet the consistency and customer demand.

We add this symbol in the VSM to represent the critical area that is to be visited in person to make sure the process is as per plan.

It shows that Kanban that is applied in the material flow process. Kanban means “card” or visible record in Japanese & it also refers to the cards used to control the flow of production throughout the factory. The Kanban post denotes where these cards or visible records are identified in the system. The supermarkets are usually accompanied by Kanban post.

This represents production Kanban card. The Kanban cards are used to schedule a work station and to track production.

This represents withdrawal Kanban card. These Kanban cards are used to withdraw material from the store.

This represents a batch of withdrawal Kanban cards. No. of batches that is to be withdrawn/withdrawn as per Kanban signal

The signal that triggers the Kanban material movement.

Kaizen burst in a VSM shows the improvement project that needs attention to achieve the future state/ideal state. Or it denotes the scope for improvement.

Other important notes that need attention in the flow of material to become the finished goods are shown in this box.

This represents pulling of material by a downstream process from upstream process, in such a way that there will not be more than a defined inventory in between them. This is achieved by pulling defined and required quantity from the upstream process to the downstream in a sequence until it reaches defined inventory, using Kanban system.

The rework activity that occurs in any workstation are represented by this symbol.

This icon is used when a process is performed using a shared resource. Shared resource means, workstation or equipment in which multiple operations are performed for same or different product.

This icon is used to represent a process. We can mention no of machines and available manpower for the process.

This icon is used to represent the process which produces products in batches.