Excel is a powerhouse tool for collecting and analyzing data, which is why pretty much every company uses it.

Since eVSM v6, we have provided Sketch stencils to go along with our Quick stencils.  These Sketch stencils are just the activity shapes from the main Quick stencil, but without any of the data shapes included (you can easily add the data later..).

Value stream mapping is a process that should be done as a team.  You can't get a realistic sense of how a value stream works without involving the people who work in that value stream.  The de-facto standard way of making value stream maps is by having a group of people work together to form a consensus on how things actually work, and make that into a map.

So once your team have come up with a value stream map (on post-it notes, whiteboard, butcher paper, wherever..) it typically helps to store your map electronically.  The simplest reason is to make the map available and easier to find than if it remains strictly on paper.

Over the years (and versions of eVSM) the concept of putting data fields on a value stream map hasn't changed much.  At its most basic, each piece of data in eVSM is comprised of a Name, Value, and Unit, which is why we call the data shape the 'NVU'.

When I give eVSM demonstrations, I often get a smile at the sheer speed of mapping and analysis and with the comment that "You look like you have done this before". I thought about what functions I use for mapping productivity.