Step 4 to making your current state value stream map is to identify your customer – your target base. However, before you start reading this article, be sure to go through the first, second, and third steps! Here’s a recap of the steps that I recommend you to follow initially while making your CSVSM:
Figure 1 – Steps to construct a CSVSM
Step 4: Identify the Customer
Here’s the question that you need to ask before implementing Step 4 of the current state value stream map:
Who will benefit from achieving the identified goals?
It will be great if these goals are aligned with paying customer satisfaction. From experience, the goal is to reduce the cost or increase the revenue. In turn, these goals will help companies become more competitive. Therefore, there is no ‘right’ answer to the aforementioned question. The focus must be: what matters most to the company.
Who are the customers?
Customers may be of 2 types:
- Internal customers, such as –
- Next process step, in sequential steps designed to convert ‘inputs’ to ‘desired output’ to ship to the customer.
- A department within the organization.
- External customers, such as –
- Clients who pay for your work
- Suppliers who supply necessary raw material
- Government or other regulatory organizations
Click here to read the fifth step to making your current state value stream map – i.e., defining the requirements!