ABSTRACT
We covered the benefits of current state mapping in Chapter 5: development of a common understanding of how the process currently functions, identification of wastes and issues of flow, and even improved cross-functional relations. These are all good things. However, the real power of value stream mapping is in the development of the future state map, or a common vision of how the service line should operate. The future state map is the opportunity for the team to redefine the process to meet specific business objectives defined by management during the preparation activity prior to the mapping event. The mapping team may expose many opportunities during the current state mapping effort, but an organization typically doesn’t have all the resources necessary to address all opportunities at once. So, the question becomes: How and where do we start?
