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Introduction
Value-stream mapping (VSM) is a lean production tool that gained popularity in the 1990s in methodologies such as Lean and Six Sigma. It is used by logistics businesses to graphically understand the movement of products from supplier to warehouse, operations within the warehouse, and warehouse to customer.
When value-steam mapping is used in logistics, it helps the logistics manager detect faults and regions that fail to add value throughout the product cycle in the warehouse. Such wasted time might be avoided with the storage deployment of a competent warehouse management system, such as Symphony WMS, which provides the necessary features and services for improved warehouse procedures.
Benefit of Value-streaming Mapping Logistics in WMS
Logistics managers can foster efficient logistics and production strategies by creating a value-stream map.
The WMS data report analysis will provide visualisation for value-stream mapping, comparing the current state of the warehousing process to the ideal state. With this information, logistics managers can determine the best course of action for optimizing the company’s inventory flows.
Finally, applying value-stream mapping to a warehouse process entails applying Lean logistics techniques to production lines. The goal is to identify inefficiencies so that errors and cost overruns can be avoided.
How to implement VSM and Improve Efficiency with WMS
These are the measures to take in value-stream mapping to assess the level of efficiency of your logistics process.
1) Identify the process that needs to be made more efficient
Define and limit the study’s scope and process before beginning the analysis.
You must have already decided which warehouse process needs to be made more efficient in order to execute this.
2) Describe the study’s goal, scope, and participants
After choosing the process to be improved, you must establish the study’s scope by identifying the warehousing process’s present condition and ideal future state.
One goal might be to maximize the output from the resource put into the warehouse process. For example. the analysis would concentrate on the throughput of the labour, steps and handling tools utilized in this activity to identify areas for improvement.
Selecting the experts to participate in examining of the warehousing process is necessary for value-stream mapping. At this point, it’s crucial to set each person’s job and responsibility in accordance with their expertise in each subject.
3) Analysis
The analysing phase is one of the most complex, as the study of each task calls for three different analyses of the warehousing process:
- How you think the warehouse process is
- How the warehouse process is really practised on the ground
- How the warehouse process should be ideally
A WMS system will be able to provide an accurate report of how the warehouse workforce is practising. These three analyses give the logistics manager a comparison between the ideal warehouse process, its actual state, and, most importantly, how the company views its ideal warehouse operation process.
4) Planning and execution in the WMS
After doing the three analyses, the participants should draw up an action plan to improve the warehouse process from how the warehouse process is really practised on the ground, to how the warehouse process should be ideally.
The new process can be documented and configured in the WMS System to endure compliance and adherence to the new process. The control of labour, process, and equipment can be part of the WMS System process. Reports and data analysis can be done on the WMS System to measure the efficiency gained.
The SMART framework offers a structure for project management goal-setting that is precise and doable. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound are the letters in the acronym that logistic managers can use as they plan their action plan.
Finally, it is all in the execution, change management and discipline of the workforce to adopt the new warehouse processes that will contribute to the success of the value-stream mapping logistics in your WMS System.
Conclusion
Companies require robust data-driven analysis to value-stream map their logistics processes to improve efficiency. Partnering and investing with the right WMS System partner, can help you set new value-stream mapped processes to digitally transform your business and achieve a real return on your investment.
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One reply on “Value-stream Mapping Logistics in your WMS System”
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