An application of value stream management to the improvement of a global supply chain: a case study in the footwear industry

This paper, based on a case study in the footwear industry, demonstrates how lean principles through the application of value stream analysis techniques can be applied to the improvement of a global supply chain. The study highlights the type of waste and problems that occur in international supply pipelines and develops a set of quantified key performance indicators for international supply chain operations. It demonstrates how value stream management techniques can be used to improve global supply chain performance by compressing lead times, reducing costs, and improving customer service, and how in turn this links to improved business performance.