Information quality focused value stream mapping for the coordination and control of production processes

Manufacturing companies become more and more dependent on reliable information from the shop floor. This information represents the current state of the shop floor and is often the basis for control decisions. By relying on this information, the quality of the information becomes a crucial factor, as it may decisively influence the result of the control decision. To ensure sufficient information quality, a six-staged method, called 'Information Quality focused Value Stream Mapping for the Control of Production Processes', is introduced in this paper. It is based on the value stream mapping (VSM) and extends parts of the value stream analysis (VSA) to capture relevant information needed within the value stream design (VSD). Furthermore, the method extends the VSD to select and develop methods for the coordination and control of the production processes and to harmonise the necessary information flows for coordination and control. The application of the method and the relevance of harmonising information quality is illustrated by an industrial application at an automotive supplier.