Process mapping: SIPOC, swimlanes and the current state

Skills you'll practise

• Build a SIPOC that sets the start trigger, end point, inputs, outputs and customers of a process
• Draw a swimlane map from direct observation, using consistent symbols for activities, decisions and waits
• Mark handoffs, rework loops, approvals and waits on a map and add time data to them
• Choose an improvement from the current-state map and plan how to test it and update the procedure

Course outline

1. 1.Process mapping: SIPOC, swimlanes and the current stateVideo · 2 min
2. 2.Scope first: SIPOCLesson · 15 min
3. 3.Swimlane maps of what really happensLesson · 18 min
4. 4.From current state to a tested improvementLesson · 17 min
5. 5.Process mapping: SIPOC, swimlanes and the current state: knowledge checkKnowledge check · 17 questions
6. 6.Hire another packer?Scenario
7. 7.Final exam8 questions · passing it completes the course, so people who already know the material can test out

Sources it draws on

The lessons and questions are written from these references, so learners can go back to the original.

• ASQ quality resources: SIPOC (suppliers, inputs, process, outputs, customers)
• OMG Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) 2.0.2
• General operations and warehouse practice