Helps to visualize the flow Helps to see waste and the sources of waste Provides a common language for talking about processes Makes decisions about the flow apparent Helps to avoid “cherry picking” Forms the basis for an implementation plan Shows the linkage between information and material flow

This is a list of the reasons why creating a Value Stream Map is an excellent first step. The VSM is not an end in itself, but it is used to create an implementation plan focused on the elimination of waste and introduction of flow/pull in all of our business processes.