What goes in has to come out. Value Stream Mapping (VSM), a lean manufacturing technique, produces a visual representation of what goes in and out of the production process. The maps help managers uncover the largest sources of waste in the value stream so they can prioritize opportunities for process improvements. Conventional value stream maps track production processes but can overlook environmental considerations such as raw materials used in products and processes; pollution and other environmental wastes in the value stream; and flows of information to environmental regulatory agencies.16 By adding energy and environmental considerations into VSM, companies can identify new opportunities to cut energy costs and raise productivity. Figure 13.1 is a sample value stream map with inputs and outputs and opportunities for Environmental Health and Safety improvements in the boxes labeled with the “EHS” oval.