A Standardized Value Stream Management Method for Supply Chain Networks

In a globalized market environment, almost all companies operate in complex supply chain networks. A high degree of product diversification in combination with rapidly changing customer needs require cross-enterprise supply chain collaboration, which causes communication problems. A way to cope with this complexity is to optimize both internal as well as external processes in a holistic manner and to define standards for interaction, collaboration and communication procedures. An established method for process analysis and optimization is Value Stream Management (VSM). Despite a variety of promising VSM approaches, there is a lack of a standardized VSM method, especially with regard to complex supply chain networks. Thus, a review of methods for process visualization and their suitability for different process types shall be discussed. A common VSM method with integrated features according to the specific needs of the applying organization will help to optimize the value creation in cross-enterprise supply chains.