Extension of value stream mapping 4.0 for comprehensive identification of data and information flows within the manufacturing domain

Abstract

The main driver of industry 4.0 is data and information for realizing resilient manufacturing systems through data-based decision-making. This requires the data flow from different machinery and its processing. Therefore, a methodical survey on the logical and technical requirements for enabling an efficient data flow can be beneficial since it fastens the process of establishing the data flow and gives production and software engineers a common understanding of the data’s meaning. Hence, data, related metadata like the unit or the frequency of recordings, and technical information, e.g., the machine’s interface or the communication protocol, are necessary. Based on the classical value stream mapping (VSM) as a lean management tool, the first approach for a methodical gathering of data, value stream mapping 4.0, was established in 2016. Since VSM 4.0 provides technical properties for specifying the data flow, some shortcomings were identified, particularly related to technical information. This contribution introduces the VSM 4.0 plus that solved the identified shortcomings by adding new properties. Compared to VSM 4.0, VSM 4.0 plus offers detailed specifications of data points, includes technical information, e.g., used communication protocols, adds information regarding data processing, and enhances the storage and usage dimension by providing more details. Through the added properties, VSM 4.0 plus allows domain and software engineers more efficient collaboration since all required information for establishing the data flow and its processing are united in one methodology. To verify the practicability, the VSM 4.0 plus was applied within several manufacturing-related use cases.