Use Value Stream Mapping to Reduce Lead Time in Your Metal Service Center
June 5, 2015 / 
bottlenecks, customer delivery, customer service, industry news, lean manufacturing, LIT, value-added services, workflow process
According to data from the Institute for Supply Management, the May PMI increased 1.3 percent to 52.8, indicating growth and economic expansion in the manufacturing sector for the 29th consecutive month. Of course, this is good news for the manufacturing supply chain, and many service centers are taking steps to position themselves as preferred suppliers. These steps include everything from holding inventory and working directly with mills, to preparing material to custom specifications and upgrading to electronic databases.
Service centers are also continuing to work hard to address the increasing demands for faster turnaround. Although efficiency improvements have been the focus of almost every manufacturer the last several years, data shows that it is still a major challenge for most industrial metal-cutting companies. For example, according to an industry benchmark study from the LENOX Institute of Technology, machine downtime, blade failure, and operator error remain the top-three sources of frustration for industrial metal-cutting operations on the shop floor. In other words, there is still room for improvement.
Mapping it Out
To improve efficiency, many leading companies are using a lean manufacturing tool known as value stream mapping. In fact, one company, featured here in IndustryWeek cut its lead time in half—from 10.5 days down to 5 days—by creating a value stream map.
Value stream mapping, as described by iSixSigma, is a paper and pencil tool that helps managers see and understand the flow of material and information as a product or service makes its way through the value stream. The “map” takes into account not only the activity of the product, but the management and information systems that support the basic process as well. This can be especially helpful when working to reduce cycle time because managers gain insight into both the decision making flow in addition to the process flow.
Although it is easy to become overwhelmed by the terminology, an article from Ryder does a good job of outlining the process in five simple steps:
- Identify product. Determine what product or product groups you will follow. Focus on one product at a time and start with the highest volumes.
- Identify Current Flow. Once you’ve defined the scope, the next step is to create a “current state map,” or a visual representation of how the process (or processes) in the warehouse is operating at the present moment. Key data points such as units per month, shipping frequency/schedules, hours of operations (available time), number of shifts worked, or any pertinent information around customer demand should be gathered before beginning the current state.
- Observe. Get on the floor and walk the entire process through step-by-step. Take notes and compile data such as inventory, cycle times, and number of operators.
- Make the map. Literally map out the process you just witnessed by drawing it out on a board. Include the data you collected and place inventory numbers under each step in the process. This will identify your bottlenecks.
- Create (and implement) a plan. Now that you know what and where your process improvements are, choose one or two to focus and improve on in a set amount of time. Once those are complete, you can prioritize the other bottlenecks to improve lead times.
If you want to learn more about value stream mapping, iSixSigma provides a wealth of information available here, and the Lean Manufacturing institute offers educational classes and webinars.
Taking the Time
In an industry driven on speed, taking two days to participate in a class or complete a value steam mapping exercise may seem like a lot. However, managers need to consider the price of not taking the time. Investing in tools like value stream mapping can help your metal service center operate more efficiently, reduce lead time, and, most importantly, allow you to better serve your customers.
