Value Stream Mapping in draw.io for Confluence

By |2021-12-23T11:56:53+01:00December 9th, 2021|customization, productivity, whiteboard|
Reading Time: 8 min

draw.io is constantly updating features and content for a variety of use cases and amongst these new additions is a library for those who use Value Stream Mapping.

What is VSM? It is the visual mapping of processes or production lines to understand what’s happening or to put it more simply.

The first step to improving any process is to understand it

Value Stream Mapping, or to give it its more formal title, material and information flow mapping has its own dedicated symbology. These symbols are available in a dedicated library within draw.io.
Value stream maps show the flow of both materials and information as they progress through the process. It’s a complete picture of any business activity, including the flow of information as well as materials.
VSM can be used in just more than manufacturing. It can also be used in logistics, supply chain, service-related industries, and healthcare.

draw.io VSM library

You will find symbols for factories, inventory, shipping, and many more.

From the movement and processing of raw materials to symbols for electronic flow or electronic communication. Everything is there to allow you to map your business’s processes and production lines.

Birdseye view

When a production process can be seen in its entirety, then “what if” scenarios become much easier to work through. This “Birdeye” view of a production line gives the bigger picture allowing, the bigger ideas to be worked on.

Birdseye overview of a plan

How do I find the VSM library?

That’s easy. There is a dedicated column for shapes on the left-hand side of the draw.io page. At the bottom of this column, you will see an orange button labeled + More Shapes.

  • Click on +More Shapes, and a new window will appear.
  • On the left-hand side of this new window, there is a scrollable section. Scroll down to the business section and find VSM as one of the libraries.
  • Click on the VSM selection box to select it.
  • Then click on Apply button bottom right-hand side.

And in the new draw.io board editor?

The VSM library is also available in the board editor.

  • Click on the access more shapes icon.
  • A single window will appear, Click on the +More Shapes button.
  • Select the VSM library in the business section and hit Apply.

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More Information

Check out the symbology of this module.

As you would expect with draw.io, everything works elegantly and seamlessly.

Should you want to know more about draw.io, visit our YouTube Channel for a constantly updated playlist of how-to videos. Or, visit our one-stop tutorial.

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About the Author:

Engineer, Broadcaster, Newshound, and Corporate Media Consultant. Encompassing a wide and varied career in broadcast media, starting as an installation project engineer with the BBC, working with everything from RF engineering to coding. Then moving to a live news operational position in Newsgathering, BBC N Ireland, before transitioning into journalism. A career path that encompasses both pure engineering and broadcast journalism gives Peter the ability to write engaging articles about complex technical issues with simplicity, clarity, and elegance. Peter is now a content creator for draw.io.