BPM in Action: With Six Sigma
Pioneered by Motorola in the 1980s, Six Sigma (6σ) is a
quality improvement program designed to reduce process
variations so that there are no more than 3.4 defects per
million opportunities or activities. Since then, Six Sigma has
transcended statistics and evolved into a management
system that ensures customer requirements are being met
on a consistent basis.
Often referred to as "management by fact," Six Sigma is
essentially a data-driven approach, which utilizes information
and analysis to develop and implement consistent, repeatable business processes that deliver value to customers. The model most often used by the Six Sigma team to solve business problems is the DMAIC methodology: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control. By using this structured projects-based approach, companies are able to identify the real cause of a problem and apply the most appropriate solutions.
While Six Sigma provides the framework for process improvement, BPM suites provide the platform for achieving it, delivering the full range of functionality.
Step
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Tasks
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Tools
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Define
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The project team is identified; a team charter and project plan is developed; customer requirements (CTQs) are defined; a high-level process is mapped.
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Knowledge Management. Allows for rapid creation of a knowledge community so Six Sigma team members can share tasks, content, documents, and notifications.
Personalization. Delivers a personalized, task-oriented workspace to each member of the team.
Collaborative Tools. Remove communication barriers between team members and within the organization through discussion forums, dynamic workspaces, and message boards.
Process Modeler. Provides an intuitive 100% HTML-based drag and drop interface so team members can quickly create, share, edit, and reuse processes.
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Measure
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Metrics are defined; a data collection plan is developed; the measurement system is validated; data is collected; baseline defect measures are calculated.
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Integration. Enables incorporation of enterprise data, documents, web content, reports, and identities into the process.
Document Management. Allows the team to easily store, secure, search, update, and track all Six Sigma project-related documentation.
Process Portal. Gives team members a productive workspace to manage tasks, content, forms, documents, notifications, and reminders.
|
Analyze
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Performance objectives are defined; value and non-value added process steps are identified; sources of variation are determined; root cause(s) of defects are pinpointed.
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Analytics. Help the team identify business issues and inefficiencies and take corrective action using performance metrics, status channels, exception notifications, and process audit trails.
Dashboards. Feature secure, web-based reports for measuring process performance.
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Improve
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Potential solutions are developed and tested; the final solution is refined and implemented.
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Simulation. Helps team members identify where potential bottlenecks and errors might occur with "what if" scenario modeling.
Process Engine. Supports high-volume transactional and long-running production processes with speed and reliability and allows system administrators to manage configuration and ongoing operational function.
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Control
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An ongoing monitoring and response plan is developed, documented, and implemented; improvements are institutionalized; project responsibilities are transferred to the process owner.
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Rules Engine. Ensures that policies, practices, and regulatory environments are clearly defined, centralized, automated, and tracked.
Business Activity Monitoring (BAM). Enables monitoring of all transactional behavior associated with the workflow.
Process Controller. Allows managers to achieve continuous process improvement through round-trip engineering.
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