Process Mapping

A process map is a tool that graphically shows a process’s inputs, actions, and outputs in a clear, step-by-step map of the process. This is generally done in the Define stage of a DMAIC project. The purpose of process mapping is to help team members and others within the process understand the process.

What is Process Mapping?

Process mapping is a graphical representation with descriptions of how things get done. It helps the participants see the details of the process closely and guides them in decision-making. One can identify the significant strengths and weaknesses in the current process, such as the contribution of individual steps. Further, it helps to reduce the cycle times and defects in the process and improves its productivity.

The major components of a process map include the inputs, outputs, and steps in the process. A good process map should illustrate the workflow and the organization’s interaction. It should use a common language (symbols) that everyone quickly understands. An ideal process map should contain proper detail with respect to multiple paths, decisions, and rework loops.

Why Does a Business Need a Process Map?

Process mapping provides a visual glimpse of different business processes. It provides the necessary information, helps determine the Who, What, Where, Why, When, and How aspects of the process and problem, and even guides towards possible solutions. Some of the reasons for the need for a process map are:

Pictures guide better than words.

Using graphs, charts, tables, and images guides better than an extensive, bland report with many data fixation issues.

Process maps facilitate improvements.

Process maps facilitate improvements in the process since it becomes easy to pinpoint the specific areas that need changes, like bottlenecks, delays, capacity constraints, etc., in light of the efficiency and effectiveness of the process.

Faster decisions

Decision-making becomes fast as it deals with the ‘show me’ aspect and not the ‘tell me’ element of the process and the problem areas.

Easier to track improvements

Process maps may ultimately serve as a measurement tool for a process. This is necessary to manage and improve it. Process improvements can easily be tracked using process maps since it becomes possible to audit and understand different areas of the process and the organization.

Process maps lead to better training.

Visual illustration for training would be much more effective than any oral tool. The visual examples register faster in human brains and help them understand things better and quicker.

Guides change management

In the need for change, when the organization moves on making the changes without understanding the current working process, it is likely to commit more mistakes or deploy its resources to create more troubles. Process maps provide a detailed outlook of the current process and guide effective change management.

Types of process maps

There are two significant types of process maps: process flowcharts and deployment flowcharts.

Process Flowchart:

A process flowchart is a simple process map that provides a visual model of the sequence of activities and their points of decision. These flowcharts provide the basic details of the process, which can later be augmented by adding different staff roles.

Process Flowchart Excel Template

Answer: (D) A Process Map can help you identify waste. A force field analysis is for problem resolution. A Pareto analysis is a way of identifying the most significant set of contributors to the data set. Use a scatter diagram to compare 2 data sets against each other to determine if there is a relationship.

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