ENHANCING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VALUE STREAM MAPPING: INSIGHTS FROM THE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY

Abstract

In today’s highly competitive manufacturing environment, industries are under constant pressure to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and deliver higher value to the customers. Lean manufacture has emerged as a strategic approach to achieving these goals, with Value Stream Mapping (VSM) being one of its most impactful tools. This study focuses on the application of VSM within the footwear manufacturing sector, specifically at BILING Leather Products Ltd., to identify inefficiencies and improve overall productivity by visualizing and analyzing the flow of materials and information, it also highlights non-value-added activities and suggests targeted improvements. The study explores how aligning cycle times with takt times can effectively reduce the production bottlenecks and eliminated waste, contributing to more informed and agile decision-making. The findings demonstrate the VSM is not only a tool for process enhancement but a critical driver for operational excellence and sustainable profitability in the manufacturing industry.