The Ben Graham Corporation

Preface  |  Contents  |  Exhibits  |  Foreword  |  Chapter 1

 

Detail Process Charting: Speaking the Language of Process...


 
 

More reading...
Process Charting Book Promo Sheet
(341K PDF)

Article - Detail Process Charting
more articles...

Process Improvement Booklets - download free

For training and coaching...
The Ben Graham Corporation

Building better business processes

Detail Process Charting Software...

Graham Process Mapping Software

Process mapping method that has helped organizations save millions of dollars.

Process Improvement Method
Process Improvement Articles, forms and checklists.

 

Ben B. Graham
ISBN: 0-471-65394-2
Hardcover
187 pages
July 2004
US $82.00

 
 

 


CONTENTS

 

List of Exhibits

ix

Foreword

xiii

Preface

xvii

Acknowledgments

xix

 

1 Introduction

1

Why Should We Chart Our Processes?

5

To Help People Do Their Jobs Better

5

Methodology Overview

6

Endnotes

7

 

2 Who Is Involved in Process Improvement?

9

Executive Oversight Team

9

Process Improvement Group

10

Process Improvement Champion

10

Improvement Project Facilitators

10

Process Library Manager

10

Process Improvement Projects

10

Process Owner

11

Other Managers

12

Project Team Members

12

Project Team Leader

12

Project Team Recorder

13

Installation Coordinator

13

Process Performance Monitor

14

Project Ownership: Transferring Responsibility

14

 

3 Defining a Process Improvement Project

17

Select a Process to Study

17

Secure the Approval and Support of the Process Owner

18

State the Process and Its Purpose

18

Identify the Type of Project

18

Documentation Project

19

Improvement Project

19

Renewal Project

19

Standardization Project

20

Development Project

20

Maintenance Project

20

Establish Objectives

21

Define the Scope

21

Identify the Project Team Members

22

Endnote

22

 

4 Gathering the Facts

23

Set the Stage

23

Collect the Facts at the Work Area

24

Interview Experienced Employees

24

Be Genuine

26

Capture the Facts

26

Level of Detail

28

Organize the Facts with a Process Flow Chart

29

 

5 Process Chart Format

31

Process Charts Flow Left to Right

31

Every Item Is Charted as a Separate Flow Line

34

Process Charts Show the Interrelated Flows of Many Items

34

Every Item Is Labeled

34

Actions and Nonaction Steps Are Indicated by Symbols

 

Laid Out in Sequence Along Each Flow Line

36

Correction and Rejection Routines Are Shown with Dotted Lines

36

Fundamental Nature of the Process Chart Format

36

 

6 Process Chart Building Blocks

37

Symbols: The Actions

37

Do

39

Originate

40

Add/Alte

43

Handle

44

Transportation

46

Inspection

47

Storage/Delay

48

Destroy

50

Combination Symbols

50

Conventions: Connecting the Symbols

51

Label and Line

53

Effect

55

Brackets

56

Alternatives

57

Correction/Rejection

60

Rejoin

60

Connector Labels: Chart Links

63

Stop/Start

65

Period

69

Bypass

70

Summary

70

Words: Making the Charts Talk

70

Choosing the Right Words

75

 

7 Charting Business Processes

79

Charting Process Scenarios

80

Paying for Gas with a Credit Card

80

Charting an Online Auction Bid

90

Processing a Purchase Requisition

106

Processing Police Officer Overtime

110

Special Situations

124

Using E-Mail

131

E-Mailing Multiple Recipients

131

Faxing and Remote Printing

134

Processing Batch Work

134

Charting Multiple Source Items

138

Creating Multiple Copies

142

Sorting and Distributing Multiple Document Copies

143

Including Flow Lines of People in Process Charts

145

 

8 Using Process Charts

149

Improving Processes with Projects

150

Building a Process Library

153

Continuous Improvement

154

Training

155

Library and Control

158

Transparency

158

Regulatory Requirements such as Sarbanes-Oxley

159

Certification such as ISO

159

Helping the Audit

160

Establishing a Culture of Mastery

160

Mastery

160

Endnote

161

 

9 Process Chart Stories

163

Allen Back

164

Merle Laird

164

Bill Roach

166

Hector Piña

166

Sharon Cunningham

167

Todd Rigby

169

Valerie Rausch

170

Ben S. Graham Jr.

170

 

10 Summary

173

Define a Project

173

Select a Process to Study

173

Get Appropriate Approvals/Buy-in to Conduct a Project

174

Identify the Type of Project

174

State Project Objectives

174

Determine the Scope

175

Identify Team Members

175

Announce the Project

175

Capture the Facts

176

Prepare an As-Is Chart

177

Get the Team Members Involved

178

Build a Library of Process Charts

179

Use the Charts

179

 

11 Conclusion

181

 

Index

183

 

About The Ben Graham Corporation  |  Contact Us  |  Permissions

Work Smarter not Harder with Work Simplification. 

© Copyright 2004-2011, The Ben Graham Corporation.  All rights reserved