Process mapping: one of three, new, special quality tools for management, quality and all other professionals

What is process mapping? Is it identifying, documentation, analyzing and developing an improved process. To use process mapping methodology, a completely new, different thought pattern occurs when the process is focused upon. Management's obsession with the outcomes must be abandoned and replaced with a focus on the process. A process map is used to understand your business and improve the performance of your processes. Why improve and manage processes? Processes produce an organization's products and/or services. Processes are critical to seizing and maintaining a competitive advantage. Processes are the vehicles for exceeding customer expectations and achieving organizational goals. The performance of individuals is only as good as the process will allow it to be. Processes, especially cross-functional business practices, are usually not documented, not standardized, not measured, not systematically and continually improved and not managed by the micro-process doer or owner. A process map is a visual aid for picturing work processes which shows how inputs and tasks are linked. A process map prompts new thinking about how work is done. It highlights major steps taken to produce an output, who performs the steps, and where these (major) problems consistently occur. Process mapping alerts one to areas in which a change in processes will have the greatest impact on improving quality. An excellent analogy of a process map is a `road map'. Teams become an important aspect of developing and using process maps. Very often, several functions, working separately and independently, are involved in a successful process.