Complete User Guide

Welcome to Yamazo VAS! Learn installation, activation, and creating your first project.

Installation

Windows Installation

1. Download the Yamazo VAS installer (.exe) from your license email
2. Double-click the installer and follow the wizard
3. Choose installation directory (default: C:\Program Files\Yamazo VAS)
4. Click 'Install' and wait for completion
5. Launch Yamazo VAS from Start Menu or desktop shortcut

macOS Installation

1. Download the Yamazo VAS installer (.dmg) from your license email
2. Open the .dmg file and drag Yamazo VAS to Applications folder
3. On first launch, right-click and choose 'Open' to bypass Gatekeeper
4. If prompted, authorize Yamazo VAS in Security & Privacy settings

License Activation

After installation, you need to activate your license:

First Login

After activation, you're ready to begin:

1. The main dashboard opens with a 'No projects yet' message
2. Click 'Create New Project' to start your first analysis
3. Fill in project details (name, line, station, product)
4. Import your first video file

Understanding Yamazo VAS's data model is key to efficient analysis. Learn about projects, tracks, rounds, and work elements.

Projects

A Project represents a single analysis session. Each project contains:

• One or more video recordings
• Multiple rounds (iterations/kaizen)
• Multiple tracks (operators, machines)
• All work elements, categorizations, and analysis results

Example: 'Assembly Line A - Product X Time Study' with baseline recording and 3 kaizen rounds

Multi-Track System

Tracks represent parallel workflows. This is Yamazo VAS's most powerful feature for modeling real production:

• Operator Tracks: One track for each operator working simultaneously
• Machine Tracks: Automated equipment running in parallel
• Concurrent Work: Model human-machine collaboration accurately
• Unlimited Tracks: Add as many as needed for complex processes

Example: 2 operators + 1 welding robot + 1 testing machine = 4 tracks working in parallel

Multi-Round Analysis

Rounds track improvements over time:

• Baseline Round: Initial state before improvements
• Kaizen Rounds: Each improvement iteration
• Side-by-Side Comparison: See exact time reductions
• Copy Work: Reuse unchanged work from previous rounds

Work Elements

Work elements are the fundamental unit of analysis:

• Time-Bounded: Each work element has start and end times
• Categorized: Station, operator, process, work area, verb
• Classified: VA (Value-Added), NVA-R (Required Non-Value-Added), NVA-E (Eliminable Non-Value-Added), MUDA (Waste)
• Video-Synced: Click to jump to exact video moment

Master video importing, player controls, and efficient work recording techniques.

Importing Videos

Yamazo VAS supports multiple video formats:

• Supported Formats: MP4, AVI, MOV, MKV, WMV
• Resolution: Up to 1080p (4K support coming soon)
• Frame Rates: 24, 25, 30, 60 fps

Single Video Import

1. Click 'Import Video' in project view
2. Select video file from your computer
3. Wait for video processing (generates thumbnails)
4. Video appears in timeline, ready for work recording

Multi-Video Import

For processes recorded with multiple cameras or clips:

1. Click 'Import Multiple Videos'
2. Select all video files in sequence
3. Yamazo creates a unified timeline (virtual concatenation)
4. Navigate seamlessly across all videos as if they were one continuous recording

Player Controls

Efficient video navigation is critical for fast analysis:

• Frame-by-Frame: J (previous), K (next) - borrowed from professional video editors
• Variable Speed: Ctrl+↑/↓ to adjust speed (0.25x to 2.0x)
• Jump Navigation: Arrow keys (5s), Shift+Arrow (1s)
• Timeline Scrubbing: Click or drag in timeline
• Zoom Timeline: Zoom in/out with mouse wheel for precision

Manual Work Recording

The fundamental workflow for creating time study data:

1. Play the video and observe the work process
2. When a work element begins, press S key
3. When it ends, press E key
4. Categorize in the dialog (station, verb, work area, etc.)
5. Classify as VA, NVA-R, NVA-E, or MUDA
6. Repeat until entire process is recorded into work elements

Master these shortcuts to analyze videos 5x faster. Print this page as a reference!

Generate professional reports: SOT, IKF, Yamazumi charts and statistical analysis.

SOT Analysis

SOT breaks down work across multiple dimensions:

• By Station: Total time per work station
• By Operator: Workload per person
• By Process: Time per production step
• By Work Area: Body regions (left hand, right hand, walk, etc.)
• By Verb: Actions (pick, place, squeeze, check, wait, etc.)

IKF (Work Combination Sheet)

IKF visualizes parallel work with Gantt-style charts

Yamazumi Charts

Visualize workload balance across stations or operators

Set up and manage your organization's standard data for consistent categorization.

Stations & Lines

Define your production lines and work stations. These are used to categorize work elements and organize your analysis.

Operators

Manage operator information. Each operator can be assigned to tracks for accurate workload analysis.

Products & Processes

Set up your product catalog and production processes. Link these to projects for detailed reporting.

Verbs & Work Areas

Configure standard work verbs (pick, place, assemble, inspect, etc.) and work areas (left hand, right hand, walking, etc.) for consistent work categorization.

Share your analysis with stakeholders through professional reports and data exports.

PDF Reports

Generate comprehensive PDF reports including SOT analysis, IKF charts, and Yamazumi diagrams. Perfect for presentations and documentation.

Excel Export

Export detailed work element data to Excel for further analysis, custom calculations, or integration with other tools.

Project Import/Export

Share complete projects with colleagues or backup your work. Project files include all videos, work elements, and configurations.

Industry-tested workflows for maximum efficiency and accuracy.

• Record stable processes: Ensure the process is running at normal pace before recording. Avoid recording during training or ramp-up periods.
• Capture multiple cycles: Record at least 3-5 complete cycles to identify variations and calculate reliable averages.
• Use high frame rates: 30 fps or higher ensures smooth playback and accurate time measurements.
• Master keyboard shortcuts: Keyboard shortcuts can reduce analysis time by 5x compared to mouse-only operation.
• Be consistent with categorization: Use the same verbs and work areas across similar projects for comparable results.
• Review and validate: Always review your work elements after recording. Use the video sync to verify accuracy.
• Document assumptions: Add notes to your project explaining any special circumstances or assumptions made during analysis.

Solutions to common issues and where to get help.