Track: Sustainable Manufacturing

Abstract

Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is a Lean tool that visualizes and analyzes the flow of materials, information, and value through a production process. It plays a crucial role in identifying areas of waste and lost value, enabling process redesign for more sustainable production. To align with the Circular Economy (CE) principles, a methodology called Circular Value Stream Mapping Methodology (C-VSMM) was developed, integrating VSM with CE concepts. The development of C-VSMM offers a valuable tool for organizations to improve production processes and progress towards sustainability. Additionally, a questionnaire was created through a semi-structured interview to help companies in identifying opportunities for improvement. This questionnaire enhances the methodology by providing a comprehensive understanding of processes and facilitating targeted improvements. The integration of Lean principles, particularly VSM, with the CE concept expands the application of VSM, enabling companies to pursue sustainability goals and improve production processes. Overall, the study presents the C-VSMM as a practical and theoretical contribution, empowering companies to adopt more sustainable practices and achieve production process improvements aligned with the CE.