How do you use process monitoring and control to drive continuous improvement?

1 What are process monitoring and control?

Process monitoring and control are the activities of measuring, analyzing, and adjusting the performance of business processes based on predefined standards and goals. Process monitoring involves collecting and displaying data on key process indicators (KPIs), such as cycle time, error rate, customer satisfaction, and cost. Process control involves comparing the actual performance with the desired performance, identifying gaps and root causes, and implementing corrective and preventive actions to close the gaps and prevent recurrence.

2 Why are process monitoring and control important for BPI?

Process monitoring and control are essential for BPI, as they allow you to evaluate the effectiveness of your process improvement initiatives, identify opportunities for further improvement, and ensure that the improved processes are sustained and aligned with your strategic objectives. By monitoring and controlling your processes, you can track the progress and impact of your process improvement projects, measure the return on investment (ROI) of your BPI efforts, detect and resolve process issues and deviations before they escalate, identify and eliminate waste, variation, and inefficiency in your processes, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in your organization. This will help to improve your productivity, quality, and customer satisfaction, as well as encourage your employees to participate in BPI activities and provide feedback and suggestions.

3 How do you use process monitoring and control to drive continuous improvement?

To drive continuous improvement through process monitoring and control, you need to follow a systematic and iterative process that involves four steps. Firstly, you should plan by defining your process improvement goals and objectives, identifying and prioritizing your process improvement opportunities, and establishing your process monitoring and control plan. This plan should include the scope, purpose, and frequency of your process monitoring and control activities, the KPIs and targets that you will use to measure and evaluate your process performance, and the roles and responsibilities of your process monitoring and control team. Secondly, you should do by executing your process improvement projects and implementing your process monitoring and control plan. You should collect and record data on your process performance and display it in a visual and accessible way, such as dashboards, charts, or reports. Additionally, you should use tools and techniques such as process mapping, flowcharts, checklists, or audits to document and standardize your processes and ensure compliance with your process requirements and best practices. Thirdly, you should check by analyzing your process performance data and comparing it with your process improvement goals and objectives. You should identify and quantify the gaps and deviations between your actual and desired performance, and determine the root causes and sources of variation in your processes. You should use tools and techniques such as Pareto charts, fishbone diagrams, or 5 whys to prioritize and categorize your process problems and find their root causes. Lastly, you should act by taking action to correct and prevent your process problems and close the gaps and deviations in your process performance. You should implement corrective and preventive actions, such as process redesign, retraining, or automation, and monitor their effectiveness and impact. You should also review and update your process monitoring and control plan and KPIs as needed, and communicate and celebrate your process improvement results and achievements.