Multi-product cost and value stream modelling: in support of business process analysis

To remain competitive, most Manufacturing Enterprises need cost effective and responsive business processes with capability to realise multiple value streams specified by changes in customer needs. To achieve this, there is the need to provide reusable computational representations of organisational structures, processes, information, resources and related cost and value flows especially in enterprises realizing multiple products. This study has developed an integrated multiproduct dynamic cost and value stream modelling technique with the embedded capability of capturing aspects of dynamics associated with multiple product realization in MEs.The integrated modelling technique rests on well experimented technologies in the domains of process mapping, enterprise modelling, system dynamics and discrete event simulation modelling.The results generated out of the application of the modelling technique showed that the derived technique offers better solutions in designing, analysing, estimating cost and values and improving processes required for the realization of multiple products in MEs, when compared with current lean based value stream mapping techniques.