Future application of VSM in digitalized environments

Abstract

Value stream management is one of the most applied methodologies to map, analyse and improve end-to-end supply chains from a company’s perspective. By its application wastes in the logistics value streams, e. g. waiting times, negatively effecting the product’s lead time are identified and eliminated in a structured way. The paper at hand deals with the topic of the future viability of the traditional value stream method, especially the value stream mapping against the background of growing system design opportunities, offered by fast technology developments in context of industry 4.0. In detail, the paper refers to the increasing digitization and digitalization of operational processes in the domains of logistics and production. Therefore, the current state of research regarding the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on the traditional value stream method and its potential in regard to the improvement of complex supply chains is investigated. For this purpose, a literature review according to PRISMA [1, pp. 1–4], [2, pp. 1–9] is followed with the aim to determine the research status quo, from which a research gap is derived.