What is Wertstromanalyse?

Wertstromanalyse, also known as Value Stream Mapping (VSM), is a lean management method used to analyze, design, and manage the flow of materials and information required to bring a product or service to a customer. It visually maps the current state of a process and identifies areas of waste and inefficiency. This allows for the design of a future, more efficient state, typically leading to improvements in lead time, cost reduction, and increased customer satisfaction. It's commonly used in manufacturing, but can be applied to any process, including service industries and software development.