Optimizing Processes Using Process Charts

A process chart is an organized way of documenting the purpose of all the activities performed on a subject by a person, a group of people, equipment, or a workstation. The subject can be a customer, possession, product, or data. It is a visual representation of the workflow within a process which records activities performed at each stage. Process charts provide information in a table format instead of a diagram but it does display time and cost information for the process.

Five Activities in a Typical Process

These are the five types of activities that occur in a typical process:

• Operation: it changes, creates or adds something. Examples of operation would be cutting down a tree or cleaning up a work area.
  Transportation: moves the object from one place to another. Some examples of transportation are a customer walking into a restaurant and a forklift carrying an object from one location to another


• Inspection: checks or verifies something but does not change it. Examples of inspection would be a nurse checking a patients injuries or a mechanic checking what is wrong with a car.


• Delay: this occurs when the subject is waiting for further action. Some examples of delay would be waiting for the doctor to come back with your results or waiting for a customer to make a decision.


• Storage: where something is stored and put away for later use. Examples of storage are locating supplies or inventory in a place where it can later be used.

This is a process chart for restocking drywall. It demonstrates all the operations that are required to complete the process.

(Click to enlarge)

Analyzing a Process Chart

Process charts are used to analyze the steps in a certain process so problems are easier to identify and improve. When making a process chart the first step is to define each task and place it under the step description and then to insert the observed data such as time and distance into the chart. The observed data then gets summarized and placed in the summary section of the chart. To analyze a process, each step has to be observed which then leads to recording the distance and the time required to perform the step. All of the steps, times and distances are then recorded into the summary section which allows for easier understanding of each activity. The above process chart demonstrates all of the steps required to analyze the process of restocking drywall.

Optimizing a Process Chart

The whole purpose of a process chart is to recognize problems within a process and then improve the method that is currently being utilized. The process chart shown above describes the process of restocking drywall. Steps 6, 9, 16 and 17 display the operation of an employee getting on and off the forklift. That operation could easily be improved by having another employee assist the whole process which would help save a lot of time. Since the chart displays each step involved in the whole process, it is easier to see the areas that need improvement.

References:

1. About, Inc. (2008). How To Process Map Logistics / Supply Chain Management Operations. Retrieved February 17, 2008, from About.com: http://logistics.about.com/od/processmappingforscm/ht/process_map.htm
2. BusinessDictionary.com. (2007-2008). Process Chart. Retrieved February 17, 2008, from BusinessDictionary.com: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/process-chart.html
3. Laryy P. Ritzman, L. J. (2007). Process Charts. In L. J. Laryy P. Ritzman, Foundations of Operations Management (pp. 49-53). Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Pearson Education Canada.
4. Process Mapping Associates Inc. (2007). Process Mapping. Retrieved February 17, 2008, from Process Maps: http://www.processmaps.com/mapping.html

External Links:

• Process Mapping
• Work Flow Mapping
• Build Stronger Communication and Understanding With Process Mapping
• Benefits Of Good Process Mapping Techniques