Improvement in Product Design through Lean Manufacturing and Value Stream Mapping

This paper discusses on the integration of Lean Manufacturing and Value Stream Mapping. Taking a practical industrial example as case study in manufacturing of hydraulic actuators, a current value stream was plotted; the future value stream was generated applying the lean principles. While generating the new value stream, superior processes, manufacturing technologies and concurrent engineering methods were used, thereby eliminating technical problems, reducing time, enabling better mechanical properties and improved surface finish on the product. The results showed improved performances on application of Lean and Value Stream Mapping Techniques and reduction in overall process time by around 26.4%.