For organizations focusing on Lean methodologies and working on creating a
Lean culture, the Value Stream Maps and action plan are often used in conjunction
with a Lean progress chart. This chart focuses on how successful the organization,
facility, or employees within the value stream are in their learning, using,
and maintaining the concepts of Lean as positive change is implemented. This
approach provides Value Stream Mappers within Lean organizations the opportunity
to rapidly revisit each of the listed Lean concepts in search of additional
opportunities for improvement throughout the journey to create the future state.
This concept of combining the Value Stream Map set and action plan with Lean
concepts places great emphasis on searching for best methods in all tasks contained
within the value stream. As each action plan task is addressed, the team
can interactively review how well the team and the employees in the process have
implemented Lean concepts. The level of training provided, along with the
employees’ ability to sustain the changes, can be measured and in turn utilized to
determine how much more effort is required to create the Lean culture desired.
A Lean progress chart lists each Lean concept that the project team wants to
introduce and sustain within the value stream. Each concept is shown with a section
devoted to training, implementation, and sustainability. The overall success,
as well as that of each component, is measured as “percent complete” on the
chart, allowing for the team and the employees in the area to see their progress.
Figure 19.4 shows a sample Lean progress chart.
By using this approach after each action item has been implemented, the team
can review the changes made, monitor the results, and assess how much additional
effort may be required to create an environment where best methods are
in place and a Lean culture exists. This requires the team members to not only
look at who was trained and how training was conducted; it also requires them
to conduct an evaluation of the implemented change. This review compares the
change with similar tasks and duties throughout the organization in a search for
best methods within the organization. Finally, as the value stream is repeatedly