Organisations implement the Six Sigma methodology to reduce waste and rejections by controlling variations in the process. The Six Sigma techniques aim at improving the overall quality of products and services offered by the business. Six Sigma methodology implementation in the organisation starts with process mapping. This process mapping can be implemented at varying degrees in the organisations as per their requirements. A Six Sigma process map is often used to improve the existing process. An organisation looking to implement Six Sigma process mapping to improve its current process needs to clearly understand every step of Six Sigma process implementation. The current blog is a beginner’s guide to Six Sigma process mapping.
Six Sigma Process Mapping—Why Does it Matter?
Six sigma process mapping is a graphical illustration of a business process for the teams. These visual diagrams help the teams understand the movement of work from start to finish. It uses different shapes and arrows to display actions and outcomes. The teams can use these maps to understand the process of creating a product and service and also easily identify defects and errors in the project. The Six Sigma process map can help the teams educate people outside the process about how it works. They can also easily compare the new process with the old ones and show improvements. The process mapping also helps the teams remove the steps that do not add value to the process development and identify areas for improvement.
What are the Types of Process Maps?
The beginner who is trying to understand Six Sigma process maps should know about different types of process maps to choose the right tool as per their situation and requirements.
SIPOC Diagram:
It helps the teams get a broad overview of the process, and they get clear details about inputs, suppliers, customers, processes, and outputs. With this Six Sigma tool, the teams will know process boundaries and understand the workflow from start to finish. These diagrams will help teams communicate the process to the people who are not familiar with it.
Flowchart
The flowchart tools help the teams understand the workflow easily. The teams can use these flowcharts to break down the lengthy, complex process into simple steps. They can be an effective tool for providing training, troubleshooting, and improving the existing workflows.
Value Stream Map
The value map highlights the value-added activities to help the teams identify areas of waste and delays. The teams will also identify unnecessary steps in the product development process. By using Six Sigma maps for value streams, the teams will be able to optimize inefficiencies, eliminate waste, and improve customer value.
Swimlane Diagram
These swimlane diagrams will organise the product or service development process by assigning lanes to specific roles. These tools help the teams understand the role of each team member in the process. It also lets the teams know how the tasks are passed from one to another and also identifies gaps and overlaps.
What are the Steps to Create a Six Sigma Process Map?
A Six Sigma process map is a systematic way to visualise the process and identify areas for improvement in product or service delivery. The project managers are choosing the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification to create an effective six sigma process map and enhance organisational efficiency.
Identify the Process
The teams who are looking to implement the Six Sigma process mapping in the organisation should first identify the process they want to map. The teams then should work on start and end points to understand the scope and purpose behind process mapping. Understanding the goals behind process mapping will help the teams to create a useful and relevant map. The teams should document steps before moving further to keep everyone aligned.
Gather Data and Tools.
The teams should next gather information about the process from start to finish. They need to conduct brainstorming sessions and list down all the actions and decisions, including outputs. The teams can use manual or digital methods to gather and organise the data. Digital tools are easy to manage because they have pre-built templates and editing tools. Alongside these tasks, the team members should also ensure the Six Sigma process map follows a logical flow to help everyone understand how the work moves from one step to another. A well-structured logical flow lets the team identify errors and delays in the product or service development, along with information of inputs, actions, and outputs.
Involve the Right Team Members
The project managers should involve team members from the cross-functional teams that are directly involved in the process. By involving all the team members who are involved in the process, the product manager can ensure that the perspectives of all the team members are considered and the process map reflects reality. It is very important to include the right team members to get complete insights and ensure everyone supports the project.
Create a Process Map
The teams should build a process map by documenting, refining, and finalising the flowchart. The project manager should map key steps from start to finish using universally recognised flow chart symbols. It is very important to document each step, decision, action, and outcome. The manager should describe each step clearly to make everyone understand the flow chart at a glance, even when they are unfamiliar with the process. The teams should review the flowcharts to make the needed adjustments based on the feedback. After the team confirms that the flowchart reflects the process, the project manager should finalise it for implementation by sharing it with the stakeholders. The process mapping should be easily accessible to relevant team members for further reference anytime when they need it. There should be an ongoing review to ensure the process is accurate and evolves over time as per changing requirements.
Conclusion
Six Sigma process mapping is an effective way to reduce waste and delays in product or service delivery. These tools are quite useful for the organisations to enhance efficiency by improving the process. The Six Sigma tools help the organisations visualise each step of the process; the teams will get great clarity on their work. Six Sigma process mapping is all about diving smarter decisions into product development to build a process that delivers a consistent value to the customers.
