Where to start / Granularity

At what level should we map? I’ve done VSMs where an entire factory (a big one, making lawn tractors) was merely a box on the map. Our focus was on logistics and distribution- we included inventory, capacity, and setup time in the factory box, but that was about it. On the other end of the spectrum, I’ve done VSMs for an Order Entry process. We got into much greater detail and discussed when/how credit approvals were done, etc. The level you go to really depends on your goals and scope of the VSM. If I were taking a first crack at VSM, I’d start door-to-door in a process, using major activities as my process boxes. If you find that one or more of these process boxes are real issues or need a better depth of understanding, you can complete a follow-up VSM on that process which includes more detail.

I don’t claim to know everything about Value Stream Mapping (VSM). However, I have used VSM extensively over the past 15 years in many different industries and situations. I believe strongly in the value of the tool and want to share some of my experience with the intention of helping novice Continuous Improvement leaders head in the right direction with VSM.

With 32 years in the industry and 5 years at IMEC as a Technical Specialist, Scott Czysz (pronounced: chish) is utilizing his expertise in leading Lean Transformations to assist organizations in Illinois create competitive futures.

We are all aware that technology is reshaping the economy – and now the workforce. It provides opportunities for companies to see their way through the ever-present workforce challenge - too many businesses cannot find the skilled workers they need, when they need them and where they need them.

J-tec Industries, based in East Peoria, Illinois, is custom designer, fabricator and manufacturer of material handling equipment such as industrial carts, warehouse equipment, shipping racks and more. Their very own CarryMore system helps to eliminate or reduce fork trucks from being used as delivery vehicles in heavy traffic locations in these facilities.

J-tec takes pride in their expert design and engineering teams. They work closely with customers to understand their unique needs and provide innovative solutions.  By striving to exceed customer expectations, they provide the best customized solutions to support any production needs. J-tec currently serves a variety of international markets including Mexico, North America, Canada, Europe, U.A.E and more.

Recently I’ve been doing some supervisory training focused on communication. When I ask supervisors about some of the problems they face “Communication” is nearly always raised as an issue. This seemingly simple response can lead to a quite complex topic. How exactly should we address improving communication?

This is an original article written by Jon Berbaum, President of Highland Solutions.

As a business or technology leader, you’re probably aware of the supposed virtues of “design thinking” these days. In my unofficial metric, it may soon surpass “digital transformation” or even “agile transformation” as the business strategy du jour.

Litania Sports Group | 150 employees | www.litaniasports.com

Litania Sports group is an athletic equipment manufacturer located in Champaign, IL.

Situation

Litania was interested in zero based budgeting, which the CEO had proposed to the management team in August 2016.  The idea around this was that it would address the company’s desire for aggressive growth in untapped markets. Having done previous work with IMEC, Litania trusted the experts to deliver the training they needed to implement true zero based budgeting which they hoped would result in cost reduction by the end of their fiscal year, September 30, 2017.

Bramic Industries is a full service machine shop located in the suburbs of Chicago. After specializing in industrial cams for more than 30 years, they have proven that they possess the equipment and knowledge to produce complex components to exact specifications. Bramic Industries prides themselves on providing high quality products that meet specifications, on time, every time. 

Some of their top products include: Industrial Cams, Precision Complex Machined Components, Light Assembly, Engineering Services.
Special capabilities include: Multi-axis CNC Machining, and Multi-axis Grinding.