Value stream mapping and application of a traditional kanban system

In competitive environment in our global world, firms should use various different techniques for going forward in their sectors. The important thing is to deliver products to customer with minimum cost but maximum quality. Being flexible against customer demand and keeping up with changing technologies are considerable. Taking these into account, the concept ?lean? has been much more important in last decades. With escaping from wastes and eliminating non-value-added costs, we can decrease the costs added to products. In this study, one of the actual subjects, ?kanban? is issued. In addition to this, ?lean thinking and lean manufacturing?, ?value stream analysis? and ?just in time? are investigated. This study consists of 7 sections. In section one, the importance about the subjects given above is given. In section 2, lean concept and lean manufacturing tools are explained. In section 3, existing value stream management, future value stream management and making value stream simply is described under the title of value stream analysis. In section 4, especially pull systems (just in time) through the manufacturing control systems are placed and in section 5; kanban, kanban uses, kinds of kanban and concerned calculations are defined. In section 6 application in ?Uzel? is given and lastly in section 7; general conclusions are given. Key words: Lean, value stream analysis, just in time manufacturing, kanban