Why bother with a Value Stream Map?
A value stream map helps you visualize what is really happening in the process. It is an overview, but at a glance, allows you to see the non-value added time in each major process step (cycle time, up time, output), the waste between steps in the WIP (work in process), and maybe even some missing information flow.
Our value stream map example is pretty basic, but one of the best places to learn about value stream maps is a book called “Learning to See
“Learning to See