The time for strategy is over. Now the process of change can begin. But this does
not mean that Value Stream Mapping is complete. Just like all other aspects of
continuous improvement, Value Stream Mapping is never finished. As the project
work progresses, the team may find that it is necessary to return to the map set
and to update and modify both the Future State Map and the action plan.
To implement successfully, the project team should follow a standardized approach
to implementation of the action plan. Lean implementation provides a great number
of the tools and concepts required to make change a reality, and it implements change
at the same speed as mapping the process. This is not intended to detract from the
power of other process improvement methodologies but, rather, to align Value Stream
Mapping with the methodology with which it is most closely associated, Lean