The Value of Business Process Improvement

by stiv conly

Business owners, at all times strive to ensure that their
business remains profitable. This they ensure by focusing on
end business objectives and most importantly, customer
satisfaction levels.

To achieve these goals seamlessly, businesses use processes
to ensure that the organization produces quality products
and services within a certain level of productivity. The
better and more effective the processes used, the more
chances that the business will achieve its end business
goals. However, the organization should also be ready to
adjust to the changing business environment. That is why it
is important for an organization to have good business
improvement strategies.

Does Business Process Improvement apply only to existing
processes?

Conceptually, yes. A business process improvement can be
carried out when data measurement techniques and data
variables already exist for a process which is only possible
for existing processes. Ideally this process must start with
a process mapping or a business process mapping procedure
where different elements of the business process are studied
carefully before improvement measures are implemented.

What are the results of a Business Process Improvement?

To illustrate, let us look at Company A. It is a company
which is in the business of manufacturing consumer goods for
its customers. The company produces 1,000 units daily of a
product whose daily demand has consistently been 2,000
units. Thus, the company should look at ways on how they can
reengineer their processes in such a way that they are able
to produce 2,000 units and so meet the daily demand.

Is a Business Process Improvement easy to implement?

Yes, it is easy to implement, particularly if there is a
deep understanding of the process.  However, one should
realize that there should be an attitude that is not
resistant to change.  For professionals who are involved in
a Business Process Improvement activity, they should be able
to take employees who will be directly affected into their
confidence and to gain their support even before the
improvements are implemented.  This is important to success
as you may meet with some resistance, particularly when a
process needs to be completely overhauled.

There are plenty of methods available for professionals
involved in a Business Process Improvement to help them
optimize business processes.  These include Total Quality
Management, Kaizen and Six Sigma.

What is important in a Business Process Improvement activity
is to ensure that there is teamwork. The success of the
improvement measures rests on this vital element.