This is the way of how to conduct process mapping as an activity to get momentum going for your operational plan. Do not attempt to process map during the initial planning conference. The volume of work is too large and you do not have all the right players at the conference. Wait to do this as an operational activity. Process mapping your operational requirements has five payoffs:
1. To present a tool to better understand your current working processes
2. To learn a process approach to reducing visible inefficiencies
3. To solve current process problems using the team approach
4. To measure improvements for quarterly and annual targets
5. To provide specific performance benchmarks for daily behavior
Here is the fastest way to set up a process map activity:
- Identify two or three critical processes that you suspect to be a source of recoverable time, money, or effort. If you don’t have several candidates, ask your firstline supervisors or people who are directly in contact with the work processes. They can give you an extensive list.
- Assemble a team of people around a large, long table that is covered in newsprint or plain paper. A long roll of brown “butcher” paper works well. Provide a quantity of assorted colored sticky notes.
- Map out the problem.
- Connect the expected result of the improved process directly to the operational plan at the quarterly target points. This gives you a way to measure the progress of your plan and to check the results of your mapping efforts.