Value Stream Mapping in the Air Transport Industry - A Case of Air France

Other conference contribution, 2011

Purpose: The companies in the air transport industry, in order to retain customers, have to deliver high service at low costs. The cost cutting opportunities rely mostly on the ground operations, in the backstage activities. The purpose of this study is to provide an audit of the analysis of Value Stream Mapping of Air France logistics flows regarding the linen on-board supply. Research approach: The study is conducted jointly with the Air France subsidiaries Servair and ACNA whose members formed a team to perform the Value Stream Mapping process. The aim was to provide a set of recommendations regarding possible improvements in the way of conducting the VSM at the company. Findings and Originality: The audit outlined several aspects regarding the way the study was conducted, and resulted in a set of recommendations in order to improve the outcomes from this VSM study. A thorough reflection on the whole process should have been made in order to be aware of the method's limits and take them into account. Furthermore, the importance of the communication between all the actors should have been emphasized so that the work could have been done efficiently. Research impact: The VSM cannot be adapted easily to the air transport industry that is strongly relying on human factors, which are not considered by the VSM technique. Practical impact: Although the suggested recommendations could be applicable and useful one should keep in mind that the air transport sector is subject to strong regulations that impede straight changes.