Lean industry 4.0: a digital value stream approach to process improvement

Abstract

As a concept, Industry 4.0 encompasses the total transformation of the ‘traditional’ production environment with the real-time networking of products, processes and infrastructure via the Internet. What is not clear however, is the functional relationship between pre-existing operational practices such as Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0, and thus the associated organisational qualities of ‘Lean-ness’ and ‘Smart-ness’ respectively. This work then presents a formulaic approach to the ubiquitous Lean Manufacturing Value Stream Map process, in order to incorporate Digital elements into traditional product value streams. The result is the creation of a Digital Value Stream Map, which may be utilised to rationalise and deploy Industry 4.0 improvement projects.