Chapter 9 (final)

business process

documented series of activities that when completes properly will effective and efficiently turns inputs into valuable products or services

Three benefits of excellent business process

-consistency
-managing from afar
-ability to grow

consistency

outputs, resource utilization equipment and technology requirements, as well as employee training

managing from afar

executives can identify strengths and weaknesses via analytics from each facility

ability to grow

documented corporate business process allow the organizations to more easily open new locations

3 requirements for a good process

-good intentions: managed with the intent to satisfy a customer
-reproducible results: knowing somewhat what the results will be.
-measurable and manageable results: can interpret output and ways to improve

common reasons for bad processes

-used to be good
-limitations
-was never good

cow path theory

story about how things can get backed up or go wrong when you don't expect it to.

The important of business process

companies and their supply chains are essentially a collection of dozens, if not thousands of interconnected and interdependent business processes.

block diagram

help process managers see and discuss the entire system. (

flowchart symbols

business process flowchart that will utilize a number of different symbols to help stakeholders identify the different types of activities within the process.

block diagram vs business process flow chart

block diagram only uses rectangles for big picture activities when process flow charts use multiple symbols to identify the different types of activities.

scope

designing a process to reach the end

rectangle

task, operation, data collection

diamond

decision point where multiple flow path possible

terminator

Start/End entrances and exits to process

large arrow

movement transportation

circle

inspection required

D-shape

delay in process

swim-lane flowcharts

same as standard process maps except that they offer more detail (see the individual or group responsible)

process maps

a collection of symbols that illustrates the sequential relationships between all of the different activities.

value of flow charts

help managers illustrate the process for both the benefit of the development team as well as those that execute and manage the process.