Updating Value Stream Mapping & Lean for the American System

One-Page Diagnostic Checklist

#### Value Stream & Lean Diagnostic

Company / Business Unit: _______________________________ Date: _______________

Current Lean / Value Stream Orientation

• [ ] We can clearly describe the original intent of our continuous-improvement efforts (make value flow, remove waste, improve the system).
• [ ] Current improvement activity still primarily optimizes for lower unit labor cost or greater headcount flexibility.
• [ ] We know which steps in our major value streams currently depend on short-cycle non-sovereign labor.

Definition of Value & Waste

• [ ] Our working definition of “value” includes domestic productive capacity, high-skill American roles, and knowledge retention.
• [ ] Our working definition of “waste” includes loss of institutional knowledge and processes that only run with constant low-skill churn.
• [ ] Improvement projects are scored on capability growth, not only cost reduction.

Redesign Readiness

• [ ] We have selected one major value stream for focused review this quarter.
• [ ] Success metrics for that stream will explicitly reward sovereign capability and higher-skill American work.
• [ ] The redesigned value stream will be aligned with the Business Model Canvas, OKR system, and Operating Model from Modules 1–3.

Summary Notes / Priority Gaps: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Discussion & Reflection Prompts

1. Where in our current continuous-improvement work are we still asking “How do we do this with fewer or cheaper hours?” instead of “How do we strengthen American productive capacity?”

1. Which steps in our major value streams currently depend on short-cycle non-sovereign labor to function?

1. If we redefined “waste” to include loss of institutional knowledge and “value” to include high-skill American roles, which improvement projects would look different?

1. How often do our Lean or value-stream efforts create higher-skill domestic work versus simply removing hours?

1. What would a value-stream redesign look like if the primary goal was to expand higher-skill American employment created by process or technology innovation?

1. How tightly are our current improvement efforts connected to the Business Model Canvas, OKRs, and Operating Model updates from the earlier modules?

90-Day Action Plan Outline

This is a high-level structure only. A complete, customized 90-day execution plan is available as a paid implementation offering.

Days 1–30: Diagnose & Align

• Complete the Value Stream & Lean Diagnostic with the leadership team
• Select one major value stream for focused review
• Map current dependence on short-cycle non-sovereign labor and pure cost-out logic
• Agree on a revised definition of value and waste for that stream

Days 31–60: Redesign

• Identify two or three points where current improvement logic still optimizes for labor arbitrage
• Redesign those points so the same Lean tools drive sovereign capability and higher-skill American roles
• Align the new metrics and targets with the Business Model Canvas, OKR system, and Operating Model
• Socialize the proposed changes with the process owners

Days 61–90: Execute & Embed

• Launch the redesigned improvement experiments
• Establish a simple monthly review on the new capability metrics
• Capture early lessons and adjust
• Decide the next value stream to bring into alignment

Note: Full facilitation, customized mapping, and ongoing Chief of Staff-style support are available on request.