How do Six Sigma and BPM Concepts Blend Together?
by Stephen
(Wellington, New Zealand)
This is an article I published recently to test people's thoughts on BPM and Six Sigma.
What do you think about it? Does it make sense to you?
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Are you ready to unleash the power of business process management (BPM) combined with Six Sigma within your organization? Companies are just starting to realize how synergistic the two process systems are, and have effectively joined the processes to increase their organizational workflow and efficiency. BPM integrates technology into the Six Sigma processes, creating a more cost effective and profitable organization.
BPM is characterized by four steps: map the process, execute the process, manage the process and analyze the data. The key to BPM is automation and its ability to blend people, technology and machines together so that the organization is more agile, more efficient working with real time information. A significant short coming to BPM is that the process does not have the analytical skills to solve complex problems.
Six Sigma is characterized with 5 steps: define, measure, analyze, improve and control. Six Sigma was fundamentally designed to improve workflow process and to decrease production defects within organizations. The shortcoming of Six Sigma is that it does not blend the power of technology within its principles, making it challenging to maintain the process controls over the long term.
The combination of Six Sigma and BPM processes will create an organization that is better equipped for workflow optimization, ultimately increasing the profit margin of the organization.
Each of the 5 Six Sigma steps needs to seamlessly blend with BPM in order to gain the necessary leverage within your organization.
Define:
In Six Sigma, the Define stage is when a team is chosen, the team charter is developed and a project plan is outlined. The team will then participate in mapping exercises to determine the high level processes that they are evaluating and any current gaps. Adding BPM to this step involves the blend of technology with the team’s mapping exercise. Technology will allow for team members to rapidly share ideas, content, documents or important communication. Technology will also allow team members to make quick modifications to the model processes through the shared interface. When communication barriers are removed, team members can discuss quicker and more freely using tools such as discussion boards, dynamic workspaces and message boards.
Measure:
The Measure step of Six Sigma is where the team will define metrics, collect data, establish a baseline and validate their measurement system. BPM integrates technology into this step, allowing the group to integrate their data, documents, web information or reports into their processes. The technology solution will also allow the team to manage their documents easier through tools such as a workspace portal.
Analyze:
The Analyze step of Six Sigma is where the team will define performance objectives, identify process steps and determine the causes of the defects that were located. BPM technology can provide a secure dashboard for web based reports that will measure process performance throughout the project.
Improve:
The Improve step of Six Sigma is where the team discusses and develops potential solutions, the solutions are tested and the final solutions are refined and then implemented. BPM technology can help the team by simulating potential bottlenecks of each solution discussed, creating “what if” scenarios. BPM technology also supports the function of the administrator by allowing them to manage and update configurations.
Control:
The Control step of Six Sigma is where the team will monitor and document the implementation as well as institutionalize the improvements throughout the organization. BPM technology can ensure consistent implementation as the improvements are rolled out across the organization. BPM also allows for process control with the ability to monitor and analyze real time data.
When the power of Six Sigma and BPM are combined, your organization becomes better equipped to optimize its workflow, reduce its costs and increase its annual profit margins for shareholders.
