How can you use process mapping to identify waste in your workflows?

1 Define your process scope

Before you start mapping your process, you need to define its scope and boundaries. What is the purpose and objective of the process? Who are the customers and stakeholders? What are the inputs and outputs? What are the start and end points? Defining your process scope will help you focus on the relevant steps and avoid getting lost in details.

3 Identify waste in your process

Once you have your current state map, you can use it to identify waste in your process. Waste can take many forms, such as defects, overproduction, waiting, inventory, motion, transportation, overprocessing, and underutilization of skills. You can use different techniques, such as the 5 Whys, the 8 Wastes, or the Value Stream Mapping, to spot and classify waste in your process. You can also ask for feedback from your team members, customers, and suppliers, who may have different perspectives and insights on your process.

4 Draw your future state map

After you have identified waste in your process, you can draw your future state map, which is a visual representation of how you want your process to work after eliminating or minimizing waste. Your future state map should show the improvements and changes that you plan to implement in your process, such as simplifying steps, removing bottlenecks, reducing errors, streamlining flows, and enhancing value. You can also add new metrics, such as cycle time, throughput, customer satisfaction, and profitability, to measure the expected benefits of your process improvement.

5 Implement and monitor your process improvement

Finally, you need to implement and monitor your process improvement, based on your future state map. You can use different methods, such as the PDCA cycle, the DMAIC framework, or the Agile approach, to execute and evaluate your process improvement. You should also communicate and collaborate with your team members, customers, and suppliers, who are involved in or affected by your process improvement. You should also review and update your process maps regularly, to reflect the changes and ensure continuous improvement.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?