What visual representation does Value Stream Mapping (VSM) create?

Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is a powerful lean-tool focused on analyzing and improving the flow of materials and information required to bring a product or service to a customer. The correct answer, which indicates that VSM creates a visual representation of current processes, highlights the primary purpose of this tool.

VSM provides a comprehensive view of each step involved in a process, showcasing various elements such as process steps, information flows, cycle times, and inventory levels. This visualization allows teams to identify areas of waste, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement by mapping out the entire value stream from start to finish.

While the other options present important aspects of business management, they do not accurately describe the specific focus of VSM. Financial performance is typically analyzed using financial statements and metrics, human resources are represented through organizational charts or other HR-related visualizations, and customer journeys are mapped in customer experience frameworks rather than through value stream mapping techniques. Hence, the emphasis on current processes in the correct answer is what sets it apart as the most fitting description for Value Stream Mapping.