The transportation value stream map (TVSM)

Abstract

Value stream mapping had its origin in the material and information flow diagrams developed originally in Toyota. They were used to identify sources of waste in the manufacturing area and eliminate them. This has already been extended to help in the design of improvement programmes oriented to eliminate waste in logistics and service operations. In this work it is adapted to support efficiency improvement programmes in the transport operations environment. A new value stream map and an efficiency measure for transport operations are proposed. Its application to the distribution operations of a Mexican firm is provided. Copyright © 2012 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.