BUSINESS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT (BPI)

What is BPI?

It's a systematic approach to help any organization make significant changes in the way it does business. Unfortunately, most attempts to optimize business processes are overly complex, convoluted and don't emphasize basic quality principles. Institutionalizing simple tools into general management instruction serves to enhance Six Sigma and Lean Enterprise initiatives. The goal is to enable supervisors and managers to be more effective through smarter process management.

Implementation: What Does it Look Like?

All BPI programs need to have the following to be successful: the right resources, clear timelines, management and employee agreement about expectations of the project and definable, measurable outcomes. While there is a bit of academic discussion, most skill sets are learnt through a series of simulations. Typically, we find the primary goal is to identify areas where improvement is needed in conjunction with strategic key performance indicators. Formalized projects are then proposed for execution. Select projects then become stand-alone efforts or ones that are incorporated into larger continuous improvement initiatives.

Since BPI is foundational, no prior knowledge of quality management or applied statistical methods is required for participation. The course acts as an independent improvement function or as an integral platform for Six Sigma, Lean or other related programs.

Management and supervisor participation is critical to the success of any BPI initiative. We highly recommend that some of the course participants hold mid-to-upper-level managerial positions.

Classroom Makeup

Typically, training groups range in size from ten to twenty participants and each attendee is required to play the role of leader, facilitator and group member during the course. The pace of the instruction follows a predecessor-successor format where the output of each module becomes an input for the next. This course can be distilled to as little as three days, provided the right people are in the room and upper-level management support is provided for ongoing continuous improvement after the session concludes.

Improving Business Process Through Application of Quality and Facilitation Tools including:

BUSINESS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT TOOLKIT

Project Scoping

Consensus Building

Leading in Dynamic Group Settings

Process Versus Content Identification

Process Mapping

Prioritization Matrix

Root Cause Analysis

Risk Assessment

Verification of Solution

Process Monitoring and Sustainability

The Three Stages of BPI and Attendant Activities

(A) Business Process Definition

  1. Identify problems
  2. Identify business processes
  3. Select a business process for redesign

(B) Business Process Analysis

  1. Model the business process
  2. Raise performance information
  3. Highlight opportunities for improvement

(C) Business Process Redesign

  1. Search for sustainable changes
  2. Incorporate changes into the business
  3. Evaluate redesign feasibility