VASCO - digging the dead man's chest of value streams

Value stream mapping is a lean management method for analyzing and optimizing a series of events for production or services. Even today the first step in value stream analysis - the acquisition of the current state map - is still created using pen & paper by physically visiting the production line. We capture a digital representation of how manufacturing processes look like in reality. The manufacturing processes can be represented and efficiently analyzed for future production planning as a future state map by using a meta description together with a dependency graph. With VASCO we present a tool, which contributes to all parts of value stream analysis - from data acquisition, over analyzing, planning, comparison up to simulation of alternative future state maps. We call this a holistic approach for Value stream mapping including detailed analysis of lead time, productivity, space, distance, material disposal, energy and carbon dioxide equivalents - depending in a change of calculated direct product costs.