• Lean manufacturing
• Polca
• Value stream mapping

This thesis presents an extension of the Value Stream Mapping method for the POLCA production system. After analyzing the principles and guidelines needed to creating a Value Stream Mapping, has analyzed the state of art, highlighting the cases where the VSM has been confirmed in real applications, where problems were found, changes made to the method with extensions, the simulation tools, and the developed of other support. Were later analyzed the key concepts of lean manufacturing and has been discussed how these are not fit with companies that have a high variety of products and high demand variability. Two solutions have been identified: the CONWIP and the POLCA. These were analyzed with a simulation that testing the performance of key factors, the POLCA has provided superior performance. It has been analyzed in detail the operation and the basic principles of the POLCA, they are then identified the benefits. It was therefore proposed a methodology for mapping the value for the POLCA method according to basic principles of the VSM that can support the implementation of the method within a company according to the basic principles of immediacy and simplicity. The explanation of the mapping process is supported by an example. Finally conclusions are given and possible future developments.