Value stream map and kaizen concept implemented in a shaft manufacturing chain

Abstract

Nowadays, the competitiveness between companies strongly requests continuous improvement techniques of the manufacturing cycles. Companies that apply and sustain the improvements have a competitive advantage over their position on the market. Japanese quality concepts like Toyota Quality System prove their efficiency by implementation in manufacturing companies leading to time-saving, no stocks production, optimum cost, high quality products. In this sense, Value Stream Map – VSM – represents one of the tools that detects the cause of failure and has the capacity to prevent the effect of this failure on the whole manufacturing chain. The paper presents the simulation of a Value Stream Map in a virtual small enterprise before and after implementing Kaizen method. The virtual enterprise manufactures shafts and after implementing Kaizen, VSM will highlight an important development of the technico-economical performances and of the benefits.