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Business Process Improvement

Process Improvement – Mapping

In order to improve any operational process and provide greater customer value, business processes first needs to be understood, and the easiest way to understand a process is by drawing or mapping it. Mapping forms the basis of all process improvement as it shows:

  • The current state i.e. “this is how we presently do it”
  • The link between information and material flow
  • Mapping visually describes your facility…..a picture is worth a thousand words
  • Highlights process steps and identifies areas of waste. Remember the general rule: “The more process steps, the more waste a process has”
  • Supports team-based improvement
  • Provides a model and common language for Continuous Improvement (CI).

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Business Process Improvement

Process Improvement – Essential Steps

Improving business processes requires companies to first understand their existing processes. While this sounds obvious, senior management will often stipulate that a particular process or series of processes need to be improved based upon their understanding of these processes. However, their understanding and the reality at the coal-face, are more often than not, miles apart.

In order to improve any operational process and provide greater customer value, the process first needs to be understood, and the easiest way to understand a process is by drawing or mapping it. So, step 1 is to map the existing process and gain consensus that “this is how we do it”, i.e. the “current” state. Once you’ve mapped your “current” state, it is essential to then map your “future” and “ideal” states, where the former is how you envisage the revised processes to be in the short to medium term. The “ideal” represents the ultimate long-term goal (perfection), which should serve as a guide or reminder for future improvement efforts. Read more