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Documenting the as-is business process is the essential first step for process improvement. Understanding current processes through employee input and process mapping reveals inefficiencies and opportunities. The as-is analysis identifies problems and guides the transition to an improved to-be process state.
Streamlining business processes improves efficiency through process mapping, analysis, and optimization. This four-step approach removes unnecessary steps, adopts better methodologies, or implements new technology to increase profits, boost employee morale, and deliver happier customers through reduced defects and faster delivery.
APQP prevents the 70% failure rate that plagues product launches by building quality into every phase from planning through production. The five-phase framework reduces time-to-market by 47% while meeting quality targets 54% more often. Modern digital tools solve the checkbox mentality by providing real-time tracking and visibility.
The 5 Whys technique uncovers root causes by asking why repeatedly until reaching the true source of problems. Most organizations stop at symptoms, missing the deeper issues that cause 87% of problems to resurface within 90 days. By fixing root causes instead of surface symptoms, teams achieve compound improvements and prevent problems from recurring.
We identify the 7 wastes practitioners of Lean Manufacturing strive to eliminate, and look at how even service companies can implement the concept.
Total Quality Management (TQM) can be the difference between a good and a great organization. Learn about what it is, how to implement it, and how it matters.
Cost of Quality is a widely misunderstood concept. There is much more to it than a higher price tag on higher quality goods! Find out why it matters to you.
The 5W2H method ensures action plans succeed by answering seven key questions: what, why, where, when, who, and how much. This simple framework transforms ideas into coordinated, time-bound actions with clear accountability. Originally developed for business process improvement, it works equally well for meeting minutes and project implementation.
Nothing verifies your commitment to quality as credibly as your ISO audit and ISO certification. What do you need to know before you begin?
Eleven Six Sigma tools that actually matter for process improvement - from control charts that catch variation early to FMEA for preventing problems and process stapling for seeing how work really happens.
Value stream mapping is a tool you can use when looking at ways to implement lean manufacturing principles. Find out how to make and use value stream maps.
Defining a business process and providing business process examples with structured steps for any process improvement initiative
A project proposal will make or break your attempt to win a new client, so here is your essential guide to getting to the top of the pile.
Even a simple hot dog vendor manages purchasing, quality standards, hygiene, inventory, and change-making processes that all support the core activity. Without understanding full process architecture, businesses waste inputs, energy, time, and space on unnecessary steps that directly erode profits. Benefits include full overview of activities, simplification opportunities, cost cutting, faster response times, automation identification, easier training, and strategic insights.
Process documentation creates flowcharts showing exact steps needed to carry out a business process. This systematic approach helps companies train employees, identify inefficiencies, and enable continuous improvement. Unlike undocumented workflows where knowledge exists only in peoples heads, process documentation ensures consistency and preserves institutional knowledge across the organization.
Business process improvement tools can help you improve upon, automate and simplify any inefficient processes, which leads to lower expenses.
Continuous process improvement (CIP) is the ongoing effort to improve product, services or processes through incremental or breakthrough changes.
Continuous improvement tools are essential for identifying weaknesses in a process and figuring out possible changes or solutions.
The 7 basic quality tools are graphical techniques used for troubleshooting issues related to product or process quality.
Most Six Sigma projects fail to meet objectives, making consultant choice critical. New consultants charge $1,000-2,000 daily while experienced professionals command $2,500-5,000 per day, with project fees ranging $20,000-100,000. Interview multiple candidates, check references with other business owners, and prioritize culture fit over credentials alone.
Six Sigma software can help you pinpoint and cut down on inefficient processes. Learn how different Six Sigma software works and what are their uses.
Over half of business users check email six or more times daily, with professionals spending nearly an hour managing email overload. Tools like Unroll.me bulk promotional emails into one message, while Sanebox splits emails into important versus promotional categories. France banned after-hour emails country-wide, while Atos CEO eliminated internal email entirely using social networks instead.
Lean manufacturing is a systematic way of eliminating waste, while Six Sigma is a set of techniques aimed at reducing the rate of defects.
Process improvement prioritizes effectiveness over efficiency because highly efficient processes may still fail to achieve business goals. Six Sigma targets 99.9966% quality through root cause analysis. LEAN manufacturing, pioneered by Toyota, eliminates waste based on customer value. Cross-training employees prevents bottlenecks from sick days and vacations, while regular employee surveys reveal hidden improvement opportunities they see daily.