Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML
Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML

Value stream mapping in Logistics Administration

Value stream mapping in Logistics Administration

Administrative processes in intralogistics are distinguished by intangibility of information, multiple interfaces, and a lack of standardization. Employees in administration are typically involved in a wide range of tasks with varying degrees of difficulty and know-how requirements, which results in d which results in duplicate work, unclear process responsibilities, and excessive resource use.

Appropriate and practical methods are required to meet the diverse and complex demands placed on the analysis and optimization of administrative logistics processes. Value stream mapping has established itself as the most successful and effective method for this purpose in production and operational logistics.

However, there has been a lack of methods for visualizing and quantifying value-added components in administrative logistics. Types of waste are one possibility for identifying these shares. These include unused employee potential, errors, and waiting times, which are the most significant efficiency killers. These must be eliminated on a continuous basis.

© Fraunhofer IML
© Fraunhofer IML

As a result, the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics has expanded the value stream method for use in administrative processes in intralogistics. As a key component of Lean Logistics Administration, the new method stands out for its ease of use, speed, and sustainability, as well as its ability to represent processes holistically.

The logistical-administrative value stream mapping is impressive in terms of structure and symbolism, thanks to the Swimlane representation, expanded customer and supplier symbols, and modified process boxes. Employees are constantly reminded of the waste in the workflow and motivated to improve processes by visualizing physical and electronic inventories. This also applies to transition times, which are calculated in the case of split and converging information or material flows using both percentage distributions and Boolean operators (AND, OR, XOR). Another advantage of the method is the ability to calculate and visualize the value added share for each process step in the process box. When applied to real-world projects, the method immediately reduces throughput times and increases the value added share.