Value Stream Mapping Symbols

2 Comments / Lean Manufacturing / By Bharathkumar Radha Krishna

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Bharathkumar Radha Krishna

Value stream mapping symbols are the most vital part of Value Stream Mapping (VSM). In this article you can download all symbols used in VSM and can use in value stream mapping. Also you can also download an Excel file, which has all symbols, which can be used for drawing VSM easily using Microsoft Excel.

We have also explained what a symbol represent and its uses in VSM, in the below sections.

Before we move into more detailed sections you can download the excel file which have each and every symbols and which are completely editable. Click the download button below to download the editable excel file.

This image is the Screen shot of all Value stream mapping symbols that is available to download from Know Industrial Engineering. It has a black background and more than 30 VSM symbols is displayed in Orange colour.

Download VSM Symbols

(Download VSM Symbols in Excel Format)

With this symbols we can move to next section.

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What is Value Stream Mapping Symbols

Very good question… right?

Value Stream Mapping Symbols are images or pictorial representation of an activity, which is used for drawing future state and current state value stream map. Value stream mapping or value stream map is used to identify Value adding activities (VA) and Non value adding activities (NVA) and to eliminate or reduce NVA.

Ok… That’s an introduction. We can directly go to the symbols.

Those who want to know more about value stream mapping and how to do value stream mapping, you can learn it from our article on Value Stream Mapping (VSM).

VSM Symbols and its use in VSM

SYMBOL

DESCRIPTION AND USE IN VSM

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).

MATERIAL FLOW

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.

ROAD TRANSPORT MODE- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — ROAD TRANSPORT MODE

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

AIR TRANSPORT MODE- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — AIR TRANSPORT MODE

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

INVENTORY- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — INVENTORY

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

RAW / FINISHED GOODS INVENTORY- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — RAW / FINISHED GOODS INVENTORY

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

ELECTRONIC INFORMATION FLOW- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — ELECTRONIC INFORMATION FLOW

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

MANUAL INFORMATION FLOW- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — MANUAL INFORMATION FLOW

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.

VERBAL INFORMATION- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — VERBAL INFORMATION

Represents the information that is communicated via. verbal communications

PHONE INFORMATION- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — PHONE INFORMATION

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

COMPUTER- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — COMPUTER

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

E-MAIL- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — E-MAIL

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

MATERIAL PUSH FLOW ARROW- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — MATERIAL PUSH FLOW ARROW

This icon represents, the push flow of the material that takes place in-between the workstations. Here, we move the material to our internal customers/ next workstation irrespective of the demand created. Usually, it happens because, the lack of information flow about the demand that is being created in our downstream process. We have produced a certain quantity in the upstream process, and it is being moved to the downstream. By using the push material flow, we usually have the higher inventory levels than that is needed which creates clutter in the material flow. So, it is recommended to avoid the push material flow and implement or use the pull flow of material.

PULL ARROW- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — PULL ARROW

Pull Arrow is used when the process in the downstream communicates the demand/required quantity with the upstream process. It usually happens with the well implemented Kanban system, where the specific quantity is to be pulled from the upstream process to produced only to customer demand. Effective implementation of the pull system will ensure the economy of material flow and Muda created by the inventory is mostly eliminated. It also reduces the muri in the workstation, which will ensure the plan Vs actual, and highlights the interruptions generated during the material flow.

OPERATOR- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — OPERATOR

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

DATA BOX- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — DATA BOX

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.

PHYSICAL PULL- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — PHYSICAL PULL

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

BUFFER INVENTORY- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — BUFFER INVENTORY

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.

SAFETY INVENTORY- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — SAFETY INVENTORY

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.

FORK LIFT- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — FORK LIFT

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

TROLLEY- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — TROLLEY

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

WORK CELL / STATION- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — WORK CELL / STATION

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

FIFO- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — FIFO

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.

SUPERMARKET- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — SUPERMARKET

Represents the place where material is stored.

TIME LADDER- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — TIME LADDER

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.

TIME BOX- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — TIME BOX

This symbol represents total value added time and non value added time.

LOAD LEVELLING- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — LOAD LEVELLING

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.

GO AND SEE- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — GO AND SEE

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.

KANBAN POST- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — KANBAN POST

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.

PRODUCTION KANBAN- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — PRODUCTION KANBAN

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

BATCH PRODUCTION KANBAN- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — BATCH PRODUCTION KANBAN

This represents a batch of production Kanban cards.

WITHDRAWAL KANBAN- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — WITHDRAWAL KANBAN

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

BATCH WITHDRAWAL KANBAN- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — BATCH WITHDRAWAL KANBAN

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

KANBAN SIGNAL- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — KANBAN SIGNAL

The signal that triggers the Kanban material movement.

KAIZEN BURST- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — KAIZEN BURST

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 INFORMATION- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — OTHER INFORMATION

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

SEQUENCED PULL- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — SEQUENCED PULL

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.

REWORK- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — REWORK

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

SHARED RESOURCES PROCESS BOX- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — SHARED RESOURCES PROCESS BOX

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.

SHARED RESOURCES BATCH PROCESS BOX- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — SHARED RESOURCES BATCH PROCESS BOX

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

PROCESS BOX- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — PROCESS BOX

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

BATCH PROCESS BOX- Value Stream Mapping Symbol — BATCH PROCESS BOX

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

If you are able read and understand what these symbols represent. you have prepared yourself to create an amazing basic value Stream map.

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