Six Sigma For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Chapter 7

Mapping to Identify Possible Factors

In This Chapter

Characterizing a process by mapping its flow, sequence, and steps

Getting a high-level view with a SIPOC

Gaining perspective with value stream mapping

A map of your location and your surroundings is invaluable, whether you’re looking for a store at the mall, navigating your way across a busy city, or trekking on a mountaineering expedition. In the same way, a view of the current state of your processes — whether in traditional flowcharts or as value stream maps — is invaluable, if not essential, in your Six Sigma improvement efforts. It captures the current state of how work is accomplished, what resources are used, what equipment and materials come into play, and so on.

Without a map, you may think you know what goes on in your process, but you’d almost always be wrong. You may be surprised how often managers lose track of things such as invoices, production capacities, inventory levels, rework, and bottlenecks. This type information must be accurate and current in order to make good decisions about improving a process.

In this chapter, we show you how to define a process and create a SIPOC, a helpful tool for getting ...