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12 SMT Magazine • October 2015 Value Stream mapping: Operationalizing lean manufacturing by erwin Patrocinio inTegraTed MicrO-elecTrOnicS inc. In the realm of electronics manufactur- ing services, EMS providers are continuously fraught with pressures from the original equip- ment manufacturers (OEMs) to lower the total cost of production. One of the tools used by EMS companies to achieve this goal is value stream mapping (VSM). VSM is a lean manufacturing technique used to document, analyze and improve the flow of information or materials required to produce a product or service. It provides optimum value to the customer through a complete value creation process with minimum waste in design (concept to customer), build (order to delivery), and main - tenance (in-use through life cycle to service). Through VSM, the EMS provider maximizes the customer gains by adhering to a clear vision and implementing a clear plan connecting all improvement activities. The VSM is a visualization tool that has its origin in the Toyota version of lean manufac- turing (Toyota Production System). Through this tool, inherent wastes or losses within an operation are identified. The value stream maps reflect a broad view of the process, usually from external supplier to an external customer at a given facility. Many of the problems that the VSM exposes reach across organizational lines of responsibil- ity and expertise. The goal of the process is to identify, demonstrate and decrease those activi- ties that do not add value to the production process. By applying VSM, EMS providers can have a clearer picture of multiple processes involved FeATure