Free Value Stream Mapping Software

Posted : admin | On 16-09-2021

Free Value Stream Mapping Software Online
Free Value Stream Mapping Software Downloads

Value-stream mapping, also known as 'material- and information-flow mapping', is a lean-management method for analyzing the current state and designing a future state for the series of events that take a product or service from the beginning of the specific process until it reaches the customer.A value stream map is a visual tool that displays all critical steps in a specific.
Type value stream map in the Search box, click the Start Searching button, and then double-click Value Stream Map when it appears. From the Value Stream Map Shapes stencil, drag shapes onto the page to represent your processes, information, and materials.
Value stream mapping can be incredibly useful in various industries. If you're a novice to using value stream mapping software like Lucidchart, you'll find that this guide covers all you need to know about the definition, history, and uses of value stream mapping, along with step-by-step instructions for conducting your own value stream analysis.

Value Stream Mapping Template Value stream mapping is a lean management method used to document the flow of information or materials required. Here is a free value stream map template created by Edraw. Using Edraw to experience the easiest way to capture, analyze, and share quality value streams. Azure DevOps Use a value stream map to help you examine your existing processes and technologies.

Value Stream Mapping Examples
Value stream maps can be created with flowchart software, and many products will have the core symbols necessary embedded within their symbol libraries. The example below shows what a typical value stream map might look like:

Source: Wikipedia
However, you can also create value stream maps on a white board and include post-its with additional information. This kind of map may look something like this:
Source: Wikipedia
Why Do We Use Value Stream Mapping?
The purpose of value stream mapping is to maximize value and minimize waste in a number of different ways including:
Facilitating clear communication and collaboration
Encouraging continuous improvement of a process
Enabling culture change within an organization
Creating visualizations of delays, excess inventory and production constraints
These ideas were originally put into practice by the highly regarded Toyota Production System some 70 years ago. Toyota established requirements that when an error occurred during an automated process, production would be stopped immediately. And, only what was needed would be done at each step in the process. This allowed them to maintain both quality and speed in making cars.
What made Toyota’s system so productive and valuable was that it took into account the flow of the entire process, rather than just one machine at a time. Each step in the flow informed the next, increasing production speed at lower costs and maintaining quality. This framework is still in practices across numerous organizations and it is a cornerstone of the manufacturing industry.
Today, Lean and Six Sigma are used across industries, including healthcare, technology, manufacturing and finance, and there is continued demand for experts with Lean Six Sigma knowledge. According to a study by PwC, 80-90% of tasks in typical business processes are wasteful because they do not add any value for the customer.
How to Create a Value Stream Map
The process of drawing a value stream map can be done using a template, software, drawing or even on a whiteboard or piece of paper. Before creating your map, it will be helpful to think about and outline all the processes and stakeholders involved. From there, you can start to visualize how these process and stakeholders relate to each other.
There are a range of standardized symbols used for value stream mapping, including those for processes, identifying customers/suppliers and others. Popular flowchart software like Edraw and Lucidchart include them in their symbol libraries.
Related Content: What is a Six Sigma Process Map?
There are several other symbols that can be used to represent different aspects of the process, and becoming familiar with them can help you create value maps more efficiently.
Real-World Value Stream Mapping Examples
To better understand when and how to use value stream mapping, it may help to look at some case studies of real-world implementations.
For example, a rope manufacturing company used value stream mapping to show the layout of its manufacturing floor. They organized its material flow, saving six and a half minutes per rope order, which is 33% of material handling time.
In another case, executives from an IT services company had never met each other in person until they performed a value stream mapping exercise. The value stream mapping exercise brought them together and highlighted areas where formal collaboration processes would improve communication across the entire organization.
Sometimes the answers that come from seeing your entire process visualized in a logical way can shine a light on inefficiencies and lead you to make major changes that improve efficiency or even shift perspectives on how your organization operates.
Free Value Stream Mapping Software Online
In fact, SD Times has called 2019 “the year of the value stream.” Company leaders are seeking to remove “silos,” where people are working separately towards their own goals, and refocus on customers. Ultimately, though, the most benefit from value stream mapping comes from focusing not just on process improvement, but on what the result means for the customer.
Value Streaming Your Career with an LSS Certificate
Advanced Lean Six Sigma knowledge can also be a key asset for your career. LSS techniques have been utilized across industries and departments to unify organizations and drastically cut down on wasted time and resources. For example, PayScale shows that the average salary for a professional with Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification is $81,000, while those with Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certificationearn an average of $97,000.
In addition, the average salaries for specific roles, such as operations manager or mechanical engineer, are considerably higher for those with LSS certification compared to the average for all professionals in those roles.
About Purdue’s Online Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Certificate Program
Purdue University offers comprehensive online Lean Six Sigma (LSS) certificate programs designed for working professionals with varying levels of Lean Six Sigma experience. The online Lean Six Sigma certificate courses prepare professionals to satisfy the immense demand for Lean expertise, skills and certification.
Purdue offers the following courses 100% online:

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Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is a diagrammatic representation of the workflow that your organization follows to achieve a particular goal. A VSM is mostly used to identify the real cause of the issue that might be responsible for the flaws of your production process, and hindering your progress. For instance, if you are into manufacturing garments, a well-drawn VSM using an efficient tool helps you assess the value of each step, and avoid in which step your time is being wasted due to unnecessary activities.
Since VSMs play an essential role in identifying the value, it is imperative to have an efficient diagramming tool that is not only easy to use, and it also offers a plethora of other functions to ease your work.
Top 6 Value Stream Mapping Software
That said, listed below are 6 Value Stream Mapping software that you can try your hands on, and pick the one that best suits your needs:
1. Lucidchart (https://www.lucidchart.com/pages/)
As one of the most used applications, Lucidchart, offers a trusted web-based platform to create various charts, diagrams, and other vector-based illustrations. The app has templates for almost all types of fields, including flowcharts, ER diagrams, wireframes, and value stream maps.
Features
Offers team collaboration options;
Allows SSO (Single Sign-On) authentication;
Allows Microsoft Visio integration.
A complete web-based app that doesn’t require any software installation, and can be used on any computer
Allows seamless team collaboration where each member can jointly work on a project regardless of their geographical location
Paid subscription is required to access advanced shapes and features
2. Atlassian (https://www.atlassian.com/software/confluence)
A complete team management software, the product of which is Confluence that allows you to create value stream maps and other charts with the help of plug-ins like draw.io, Gliffy, etc. When talking about Atlassian Confluence, it enables you to create a practically unlimited number of spaces that can be populated with pages and secured with permissions for restricted accessibility.
Features
Offers easy work organization;
Has templates to start with;
Allows feedback and mentioning.
One of the most diversified and feature-enriched team collaboration and workflow management apps
Atlassian offers various other tools like Bitbucket for code management, Status page for effective communication, etc. under a single roof
The tool is too complex to understand and might require a steep learning curve, especially if you are new to team management and/or diagramming field
3. SmartDraw (https://www.smartdraw.com/)
SmartDraw is a full-fledged diagramming tool that can also be used as a VSM software, regardless of the nature of your work. The app is available as both online and desktop versions, where the former can be accessed from the web browser, while the latter needs to be installed on your PC before you can begin drawing your value stream maps.
Features
Integration with Google Maps, MS Office, etc.;
Automatically manages object alignments and spacing;
Compatible with Visio.
Offers perpetual license, so you don’t have to pay monthly or annually to use the app
Offers several pre-built templates to start with, without wasting your valuable time
4. Creately (https://creately.com/)
Another online diagramming tool to help you create various illustrations for all needs. Creately can be quite effective while working with a team. Offering real-time collaboration, Creately allows all your team members to work on the same diagram simultaneously, thus saving a lot of time that would be wasted otherwise.
Features
Has more than 1000 templates to start your work with;
Add comments and create threaded discussions while working from geographically dispersed locations;
Export the final projects in your preferred format.
Can fully integrate with other Cloud platforms like Google Drive and OneDrive (in development phase)
Desktop variant offers perpetual license that could be highly expensive if you have a team of multiple users
Free Value Stream Mapping Software Downloads
5. Visual Paradigm (https://www.visual-paradigm.com/)
With all the features and options, Visual Paradigm can be considered a diagramming giant. The app, like most of its competitors, is available as both web and desktop variants. However, when talking about the latter, it supports Windows, Linux, and Mac platforms. Learning Visual Paradigm is fairly simple as well due to all the interactive product tours and video tutorials available right on the official website itself.
Features
Can be helpful in various software designing processes like SysML, ERD, DFD, etc.;
Can generate programming and database codes;
Offers team collaborations on the online edition.
Offers both subscription-based and perpetual licenses
Free updates are available only for one year after the purchase.
Must renew the maintenance contract to receive any further updates
6. EdrawMax (https://www.edrawsoft.com/edraw-max/)
Best in the list, EdrawMax is one of the most efficient and easy-to-use value stream mapping applications present in the market today. Available for every major platform and with continuous updates, creating diagrams for almost all types of industries becomes extremely easy with EdrawMax.
Features
Has templates for almost all types of diagrams and charts;
Easy integration with Visio;
Export diagrams as an image (PNG, JPG), PDF file, SVG file, MS Office file, etc. ;
MS Office-like interface to give you a smooth experience.
The software is able to run on Windows, macOS, Linux
Allows you to upload your creations to Google Drive and Dropbox
Perpetual license can be used on only up to two devices at a time
Pick up the Perfect VSM Software
After going through all the above sections, the question shouldn’t be hard to answer. Any tool that is easy to use has multiple templates, offers free upgrades is your best bet for value stream mapping software. With that said, only one app from the above list, EdrawMax covers the entire spectrum and is definitely worth trying.