ABSTRACT
After attaining a solid understanding of lean, the next step is to map the current state of production, showing the flow of material and information. With this step, you place a stake in the ground. Your goal is to gather accurate, real-time data related to the product family, or value stream, you specified in Step 2. Therefore, you must go to the factory floor to collect data rather than rely on past reports generated by an industrial or process engineer, or on data based on someone’s best recollection. Moreover, data collection is not a solitary activity; it is important for the core team to work together.
