流程重组的手册跟工具7资料.pdfVIP

Basic Tools for Process Improvement Module 6 FLOWCHART FLOWCHART 1 Basic Tools for Process Improvement What is a Flowchart? A Flowchart is a diagram that uses graphic symbols to depict the nature and flow of the steps in a process (Viewgraph 1). Another name for this tool is flow diagram. When should teams use Flowcharts? At the beginning of your process improvement efforts, an as-is Flowchart helps your team and others involved in the process to understand how it currently works. The team may find it helpful to compare this as-is Flowchart with a diagram of the way the process is supposed to work. Later, the team will develop a Flowchart of the modified process—again, to record how it actually functions. At some point, your team may want to create an ideal Flowchart to show how you would ultimately like the process to be performed. Among the benefits of using Flowcharts (Viewgraph 2) are that they ! Promote understanding of a process by explaining the steps pictorially. People may have differing ideas about how a process works. A Flowchart can help you gain agreement about the sequence of steps. Flowcharts promote understanding in a way that written procedures cannot do. One good Flowchart can replace pages of words. ! Provide a tool for training employees. Because of the way they visually lay out the sequence of process steps, Flowcharts can be very helpful in training employees to perform the process according to standardized procedures. ! Identify problem areas and opportunities for process improvement. Once you break down the process steps and diagram them, problem areas become more visible. It is easy to spot opportunities for simplifying and refining your process by analyzing decision