Value Stream Mapping in Product Development

Value Stream Mapping is a tool where we can visually document the process of creating a product. It’s a way for us to to document the process itself and also document the areas within those processes that add value to a product. Typically, this manifests itself in starting with the product and working backwards towards origin points. Because of this, we’ll work through the various processes that build the product and the areas in which value is added. We document all of that. In software, that typically means we’ll start with the end user and we’ll work backwards to the back end systems and ultimately feed that user with data and server needs.

Four Tips To Integrate Value Stream Mapping: 

1. Don’t get stuck on current state
2. Don’t get stuck on future state
3. The purpose of mapping is action
4. Don’t be afraid to check and pivot

Ultimately, what we want is to have a visual that we can all work from that really does a good job of identifying where the waste is. There are several important questions to consider. Where are we not adding value to the customer? Where are we not adding value to the data that our customer uses? Where are we not changing the product, somehow? How can we build a plan to eliminate as much of that waste as possible. Or to be more efficient and effective in the process, or product that we’re developing.