These are the questions Compass asks for this practice, and the levels it scores you against.
Walking the value stream and mapping every process step, inventory point, and information flow as it actually operates today.
How well do you understand the current flow of material and information through your value stream?
Level 1 → 5World class at level 4
- No map exists — we manage the flow by feel and experience
- We have a rough process flow but inventory levels, cycle times, and lead times are unknown
- We have a process flow diagram with some time data but it is not a complete VSM
- A complete current-state VSM exists with cycle times, changeover times, uptime, inventory counts, and takt timeWorld class
- The current-state map is updated quarterly; digital data feeds (OEE, inventory) automatically refresh key metrics
Designing an improved flow by eliminating waste and aligning the value stream to takt time demand.
How formally do you design the improved future state for your value stream?
Level 1 → 5World class at level 4
- We tackle obvious problems one-by-one with no overall future vision
- We have an informal idea of what a better flow looks like but no documented future-state map
- A future-state map exists but was created without a structured waste-elimination methodology
- A future-state map applies VSM lean concepts (pull, flow, takt alignment) and quantifies the improvement opportunityWorld class
- Future-state design is stress-tested with simulation before committing to layout or equipment changes
Translating current-to-future-state gaps into a prioritised action plan that teams can execute.
How do VSM findings translate into improvement actions?
Level 1 → 5World class at level 4
- We identify waste but have no structured plan to eliminate it
- We list improvement ideas but they are not prioritised by impact or assigned to owners
- We have an improvement list with priorities but timelines and resources are vague
- A gap-to-action roadmap with owners, target dates, and impact estimates is linked directly to the VSM findingsWorld class
- Roadmap actions feed into the plant's operational plan; progress is reviewed monthly against the future-state metrics
