Energy Value-Stream Mapping a Method to Visualize

Waste of Time and Energy

Rainer Schillig, Timo Stock, Egon Müller

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Rainer Schillig, Timo Stock, Egon Müller. Energy Value-Stream Mapping a Method to Visualize Waste
of Time and Energy. IFIP International Conference on Advances in Production Management Systems
(APMS), Sep 2015, Tokyo, Japan. pp.609-616, �10.1007/978-3-319-22756-6_74�. �hal-01417624�

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 Energy Value-Stream Mapping a Method to Visualize
Waste of Time and Energy

Rainer Schillig1, Timo Stock1,2, and Egon Müller2

1
University of Applied Sciences Aalen, Beethovenstraße 1, 73430 Aalen, Germany
{rainer.schillig, timo.stock}@hs-aalen.de
2
University of Technology Chemnitz, Erfenschlager Str.73, 09126 Chemnitz, Germany
[email protected]

Abstract. In the industry, the Value-Stream Mapping (VSM) method has been
successfully used for years to reduce inventory and lead times. With this meth-
od, process steps in a value-stream can easily be divided into value-adding and
non value-adding ones. However, the VSM does not provide any information
about the energy consumption and, as a consequence; it does not give any hint
at how much of the energy used actually serves value-adding purposes. This
paper describes how the VSM can be extended to an Energy Value-Stream
Mapping (EVSM) method which allows dividing the energy input of the pro-
duction process in value-adding and non value-adding.

Keywords: Energy Value-Stream Mapping · Energy Efficient Production and

Logistics · Lean and Green Production · Toyota Production System

1 Introduction

While the manufacturing industry is one of the main energy consumers, it is at the
same time also the key factor for our prosperity. Considering the continuously rising
energy cost and an increasing public awareness of the need for a sustainable economic
activity, many branches of industry have declared energy efficiency their strategic
business objective [1].
In Germany for instance, during the second half of the last century, labour produc-
tivity has increased almost fourfold, while energy productivity has not even doubled
during the same period of time [2]. In the past, the industry’s rationalizing efforts
have focused on increasing the degrees of automation while simultaneously cutting
down the cycle times.
When in the nineties of the last century the methods of the Toyota Production Sys-
tem (TPS), with its focus on systematical waste reduction came to be known in the
Western World, numerous companies tried to adopt them for their own use. Since that
time the TPS is considered as a benchmark for creating highly efficient value-streams
and often it is also described as a lean production system [3].
2 The Toyota Production System

Taiichi Ohno, who is one of the TPS’s architects, described its essence as follows:
‚All we are doing is looking at the time line from the moment the customer gives us
an order to the moment when we collect the cash. And we are reducing that time line
by removing the non value-added wastes’ [4], Figure 1.

Fig. 1. Essence of the TPS according to [4]

Thereby he makes it quite clear; the point is to reduce non value-adding activities
and not regarding details of the value-adding. To identify non value-adding processes
for the first, Ohno divided activities into waste and work, Figure 2. To identify waste
systematically, Ohno named 7 types of waste. Work usually consists of a combination
of value-adding and non value-adding activities.

Fig. 2. Value-adding and non value-adding activities according to [4]

3 Value-Stream Mapping and Energy Value-Stream Mapping

Rother and Shook [5] presented in 1999 a method called Value-Stream Mapping
which was apt for practical use. This method made it possible to look at the cycle
times of work separately from the non value-adding lead time (waste). In their ap-
proach, minimizing the lead time extending inventory (waste) was the focus.
This approach may convey the impression that the process sequences within the
cycle times (work) is, as a matter of principle, free from waste. However, this is not
true. When taking a closer look, one can see almost always that the cycle time, of the
manufacturing process itself, is composed of value-adding (tva = time value-adding)
and non value-adding (tnva = time non value-adding) amounts of time [6].
There are several proposals in order to extend the VSM to an Energy Value-Stream
Mapping (EVSM) [7-13]. Most of these approaches use a stepped ‘energy line’ to
visualize the energy consumption alongside the process chain. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) [7] introduced EVSM by presenting the energy usage for
each production step. Erlach and Westkämper [8] added two figures: The ‘Energy
Intensity’ to describe the process-related energy consumption and the ‘Degree of Effi-
ciency’ to evaluate the process efficiency in comparison with a benchmark process.
Reinhart et al. [9] demonstrated in their approach how different forms of energy like
electrical, gas or compressed air could be visualized. [8, 9] formulated guidelines to
improve the energy efficiency of the value-stream called Energy Value-Stream De-
sign. Shahrbabaki and Jackson [10] described in principal that energy in an EVSM
should be divided into value-adding and non value-adding portions. They lack to ex-
plain how this could be done. Plehn et al. [11] extended the representation of the
EVSM by an input/output model using the criteria energy, materials, water, waste and
emissions. Posselt et al. [12] added the process related energy consumption of periph-
eral systems.Keskin and Kayakutlu [13] showed the link between Lean and energy
efficiency and the effect of non value-adding time in terms of energy waste.
However none of these proposals is built on an exclusively dual assessment of the
time and energy input only referring to the criteria value-adding or not. If the VSM
should be extended to an EVSM regarding the energy consumption of the production
processes the cycle times must not be regarded as completely value-adding automati-
cally.
Aalen University of Applied Sciences, in cooperation with Chemnitz University of
Technology, has developed a method, called ‘Dual Energy Signatures’ allowing for
appraising the process-related energy consumption using the criteria ‘value-adding’
and ‘non value-adding’. This dualised approach allows extending the proven VSM
method to an EVSM, in accordance with the principles of the TPS. The classification
of energy into Eva (Energy value-adding) and Enva (Energy non value-adding) opens
up the possibility to divide the cycle times doubtless into tva and tnva, too.

4 How to Create a Dual Energy Signatures of a Milling Process

In the Aalen University’s milling laboratory experiments were taken on a 3-axis

vertical machining centre, Hermle Type C 30 V. The machining process consisted in
successively milling three grooves of different widths into a component made from
heat-treated steel. Milling was done in full cut, with an infeed of 7.5 mm over a dis-
tance of 60 mm and using three HSS end mill cutters with diameters 8, 12, and 16
mm. In parallel, a power measurement was taken [14].
To identify the energy, required for the actual chip removal, the authors suggest:
Comparing the energy consumption while processing (the workpiece) to a material
with a very low density (air). Therefore the test set-up had a distinctive feature in so
far as the first pass took place using an ‘air cut’, in other words processing without a
workpiece, Figure 3 - top. Thereby the production parameters should be maintained.
This made it possible to see what the energy signature of the process looked like
without any workpiece contact. The second pass took place with workpiece contact,
Figure 3 - center. When both signatures are overlaid one gets the dual energy signa-
ture Figure 3 - bottom. In this signature the value-adding elements of the process are
clearly distinguishable, with regard to the input of energy as well as with regard to
their duration, and can be differentiated unmistakably from the non value-adding
elements of the process.
 While overlaying
processing with &
without workpiece
one gets the dual
energy signature.

Fig. 3. Milling - air cutting vs. workpiece contact [according to 6]

Details of these measurements are shown in Figure 4. The light grey signature
shows the electrical power consumption during air cut, while the dark grey signature
shows the additional power consumption during chip removal. It is important to note,
that only the actual chip removal process is value-adding. The value-adding times are
marked by dark grey bars at the bottom.

Fig. 4. Dual energy and time signature of a chip removal process [according to 6, 14]

The value-adding energy directly required for chip removal is 10 Wh, the value-
adding time needed therefore is 25 seconds in total. The non value-adding input of
energy is 116 Wh, while the non value-adding input of time is 135 seconds. If it isn’t
possible to do an air cut, due to technical limitations, the energy required for the chip
removal itself can also be calculated. Appropriate approaches are [15, 16]. Thereby a
dual energy signature can be drawn as well.

5 Dual Resolution of cycle time and energy input

The value-adding efficiency of the process in terms of energy, as well as in terms of

time, can now be defined as ηEva and ηtva, equation 1, 2. Therefore the value adding
energy is divided by the total energy consumption of the process [1, 6, 14].
E va 10Wh
ηEva = ηEva = = 8% (1)
(E va + Enva ) (10Wh + 116Wh)

t va 25s
ηtva = η tva = = 16% (2)
(t va + tnva ) (25s + 135s)

The use of dual signatures allows evaluating the production process in respect to
the efficient usage of time and energy. The cycle time itself as well as the energy used
within this cycle time is thereby consequently subdivided into value-adding and non
value-adding parts. In the data box of the milling process the results are shown nomi-
nally, in form of figures, as well as proportionally in form of the bars beneath, Figure
5.

Fig. 5. Dual signature and data box according to [6, 14]

The low efficiencies show that the dual approach can help to reveal substantial im-
provement potentials within the production process itself. To increase the process
efficiency, basically two approaches are possible: One is to decrease the power level
and thereby reducing the non value-adding energy (Enva). This affects just the energy
productivity. The other one is the reduction of non value-adding time (tnva). That will
lead to an increase in productivity and in addition to energy savings. When time is
wasted and during this time energy is consumed, this amount of energy necessarily
also has to be regarded as waste, too. Up to now the authors have analysed several
production processes like milling, casting, welding, injection moulding, handling,
robotic and laser applications [1, 6, 17, 18]. For all of them a dualistic approach can
be made. Other production processes are actually under research.
6 Energy Value-Stream Mapping

The analysis of the manufacturing process by means of dual energy signatures allows
it to extend the VSM to an EVSM while maintaining the inner logic of the VSM [1].
The results of the investigated milling process are embedded into the EVSM, Figure
6. A drilling process and the time and energy used for the transport between the pro-
duction processes are added (assumed figures). Transport requires almost always
energy, has a lead time extending effect and is not value-adding. Consequently the
time (tT = time Transport) and energy (ET = Energy Transport) used for transport are
considered as non value-adding. This is schematically shown by the rectangular func-
tion, Figure 6.

Fig. 6. Energy Value-Stream Mapping [according to 1]

As mentioned earlier, only tva serves value-adding purposes, tnva and tT do not. On
the right hand side of the time line the sums of these times are visualized. The same
logic can be applied to the use of energy in EVSM. When optimizing energy value-
streams it is important to look at the value-stream as a whole, this helps to avoid sub
optimisations.
If there are processes which consume lots of resources (time, energy) or entail low
value-adding efficiencies they should be seriously questioned in total. Only if it is
impossible to find a more efficient manufacturing technology and a more suitable
process, then as a second step the time and energy input which does not contribute to
adding value can be reduced systematically.

7 Process Improvement by Dual Energy Signatures and

Detailed Process Analysis

Electric energy (E) is the integral of power (P) over time (t). To increase the process
efficiency, basically two approaches are possible: Reducing the process time or de-
creasing the power level [17]. However this requires detailed process knowledge and
an analysis of all major components to allocate waste of energy.
 Figure 7 shows the principal approach to improve the process efficiency by dual
energy signatures and detailed process analysis. Like in figure 4, the value-adding
time and energy, required for chip removal, are marked. From the point of view of
energy only shares of the spindle and axle drive serves value-adding purposes. They
drive the chip removal. As shown in figure 7 all the other components do not serve
value-adding purposes. Especially the energy consumption outside the value-adding
time should be questioned – eliminated. Therefore stop and go systems for the differ-
ent components should be installed, e.g. for lightning, control cabinet cooling, etc. If
complete elimination of the energy consumption in non-value adding periods of time
is not possible it should be at least reduced to a minimum.

Fig. 7. Detailed Process Analysis

This mythological approach provides a systematic to identify and question any

kind of wasted time and energy.

8 Summary

Value-streams that include time and energy data are becoming more and more im-
portant in the manufacturing industry. With the help of dual energy signatures the
value-adding and the non value-adding inputs of time and energy within a production
process can be determined, as desired by Ohno. This is shown by using the example
of a milling process, in which the energy requirement during air cutting is contrasted
with the energy requirement for a milling process with workpiece contact.
This distinction makes it possible to extend a VSM to an EVSM. Including transport
in the EVSM offers the opportunity of visualizing not only its non value-adding ener-
gy requirement but also its lead time-extending effect. This methodical procedure
provides a practical tool to process designers for a comprehensive analysis and im-
provement of value-streams.
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