When it comes to successfully running a business, we can say that it is not r an easy process for sure. However, with the help of process improvement, you will be able to do it in the best way. Yes, you heard it right, people.
Process improvement is something that can be a great help when it comes to making sure that you are analyzing and improving all the important processes that tend to be a part of the company of yours.
Process improvement is directed towards the accomplishment of organizational goals, associated strategies, and customers’ expectations.
In this post, we will be diving deep into the world of process improvement and understand how significant it is for today’s business, so let us get started-
Table of Contents
Why Do We Need Process Improvement?
There are so many different reasons why a company would need process improvement. It helps a lot when it comes to the analysis of the business operations in the best way.
The time of process completion is reduced, the process efficiency is increased, and there are no wasted efforts from the company employees as well.
Apart from all that, there is also a reduction in the friction that tends to happen a lot in the business processes these days. So, there is simply not a single speck of doubt that using process improvement can be the best thing for sure.
Role of Process Improvement in Business Process Management
Business Process Management, or BPM, is one of the most important techniques that the companies use to complete any particular project that they have.
The main idea behind every single BPM study every made is to ensure that the different stages in the process and the tasks which are a part of the process are effective and efficient in completion.
This way, a high value is perceived by the customer when they tend to receive a proper service or a product. The greater your value is, the more payment will you receive from the customer because they will be enjoying the product in the first place.
Also, this will make sure that the company can have more and more profits for the products as well. So, there is simply not a single speck of doubt about the fact that process improvement plays a very important role in the attaining of this particular goal of the people.
Here we are going to discuss a bit of it and also about the different aspects of process improvement. So, for those who want to know about it, this is the place where you are going to get all the information that you need. But before, we are going to talk about the definition of process improvement.
What Exactly Is Process Improvement?
Here we are going to provide some information about process improvement and also the definition of it.
To be honest, Business Process Improvement or BPI is a project or an initiative that is taken by a particular company to make some improvement in the performance and the alignment of a particular process which is a part of a strategy thought out by an organization.
This is to increase and provide according to the demands and expectations of the customers. BPI consists of analysis, selection, design, as well as the implementation of different processes which are improved in the best sense to provide better results for the project.
Process improvement processes through 6 different phases, so let us have a look upon those first-
6 Phases of Process Improvement
#1. Brainstorming
In this processes whose improvement is needed are identified by team inputs and voting.
#2. Creating Charter
In this, a team has authorized that need to channelize the process improvement procedures.
#3. Developing the map of Current State Process
Here, the team will be identifying the channels, steps, and assumptions that are currently being followed.
#4. Creation of datasheet and evaluation
A datasheet is prepared related to cycle time, work time, and resources that perform that process.
#5. Designing of Future State Process
As per the evaluation of the data, future steps of that process are designed for process improvement. It comprises waste elimination, cycle time reduction, and employee motivation as well.
#6. Developing Implementation Plan
Now, in the final phase future state process is implemented by the authorized team.
To make sure that happens, there are some new and distinguished processes which should be included. Now, these processes should have some principles and steps as well.
Here we are going to discuss these steps.
Steps to ensuring Process Improvement
1) Having a Proper Understanding Of The Process Which Is To Be Improved
This is certainly the first step of the entire thing, and it is a very important one. In the first step, you need to analyze the business process which you want to improve. You can never really make some improvements in something that you are not able to understand, right?
Well, to be honest, before starting the entire thing, you need to have a proper understanding of the whole thing and the process. You need to know the working of the process and that too without any doubt or the illusion of some sort which could create any misunderstandings in the future.
You will also be able to hire some help to assists you with that as there are certain professionals for the analysis of the processes. Their demand is increasing, and the companies are trying hard to find such experts too.
Apart from that, we would also recommend that you go for the AS-IS mapping process to analyze the entire process. This is by drawing a proper graph of the entire process and the phases that it has.
This way, you will be able to get a clear and complete view of the process and the reasons for the delays too.
2) Finding the Improvements
After you are done with the analysis of the process, you need to model a completely new one which is going to be the improved version of the process for sure. But then, how are you supposed to do it in the first place.
What would be the best and the most amazing way of conducting this particular process so that you can get the results that you are expecting and that too without using all of the resources that you have?
The first thing that you need to do to achieve that goal is to create some other diagram so that you can share this one with the team of yours.
Also, you need to ask yourself and the team some questions so that you can find out about the improvements that you want to make in the process. You need to know the entire purpose of improving the process.
Whether it is the activity or the workflow, which is your guide is another one of the most important things to consider. Also, you need to know whether there are any particular redundancies or not.
Find out about the problems in the quality of the process as well as the compliance issues which might exist in the process as well.
Why do you think that the work is so necessary to do? These are some of the important questions that you need to ask to have the best results in the improvements.
3) Implementation of The Improvements
Now that you are done with the process modeling, you are all set to make some improvements in the process. You need to ensure that you are effectively able to put into action all the different points of improvements that you have already discussed.
You also need to get the approval of every single person before you implement the changes so that you can have the best results when it comes to the success of your process improvement tactic. After the examination of this implementing process, you are all set to see whether the new ideas of yours are bearing some results or not.
To implement these steps adeptly, let us have a look upon below given tips of process improvement-
Tips To Help You with Process Improvement
In case you have got an idea for improving the business process of yours, then you need to ensure that you have some right tips to help you out. Well, these are the tips that we have in here for you.
#1. Mapping The Entire Process
You need to properly map the entire processes to make sure that you can see the entire process as a whole.
This will make sure that you can easily see all the areas on the processes that might need some improvement of some sort. The best thing to do would be to create a flow diagram of the entire process so that you can have a better idea.
#2. Analyzing The Process
Now that the mapping is done, you need to have a closer look into every single step for you. This is where the diagram of yours can come ahead to help you out.
You can find out the areas where there might be some problems in the future. Note down all the areas where you might see some delays or other issues.
#3. Redesigning
The next thing that you need to do is redesign the entire process in a way that you can easily eliminate all the problems that you have seen on the map.
This is one of the best things to keep in mind when you are trying to achieve the goal of process improvement in the best way. This will ensure that you can understand the older process and then not miss out on the details as well. So, go ahead and try it out right now.
#4. Assign The Resources
Now, this is something that you will have to do to make sure that the improved process works in the best way. There are so many different teams in the company that will be affected by the results.
Hence, assigning the resources to provide some reference to the team will be the best idea at that point for sure.
#5. Get a Plan Of Action
Now you need to make sure that you have a proper plan that you can easily implement to have the best results. The plan would be to make sure that your improved process works in the best way without any glitches. So, that is something that you need to take care of.
Make sure to follow all the tips that we have in here for you so that you can learn about process improvement in the best way.
In Conclusion…
After the implementations of these improvements, you also need to monitor these processes to see if the results are according to your liking or not.
We hope that this article on process improvement was able to help you in understanding the whole concept easily. Incorporating process improvement strategy is important because it will be improving the outputs and ultimately the sales growth.
There will be effective elimination of the wasters, and more motivated workforce will be completing your tasks. It will empower businesses with proper delivery timeframes and an effective communication plan.
How important do you consider Process Improvement for the growth of today’s business? Share your perspective in the comments below.
Liked this post? Check out the complete series on Operations Management
