Choosing Significant Business Process Mapping Tools

The function of process mapping is to provide an overview of the core processes in a business enterprise. This overview is a communications tool that allows those in the organization to ensure that they are all on the same page when making decisions regarding a particular business process. It eliminates any ambiguities regarding the flow, accountability and objective of a process. And business process mapping tools can greatly facilitate the task

There are four steps important for effective process mapping.

  1. The first step is identifying the process steps, which vary from organization to organization.
  2. Secondly, data needs to be gathered from management and employees involved in a whole process. The focus is on identifying the key controls of the process as well as the risks and objectives.
  3. Individual employees and managers are next interviewed to get feedback on existing process maps (if any) and suggestions on how to improve the process.
  4. The last step is analysis to find out how to improve the process.

While a pen and pencil can actually do the job, software is available to make it easier and more effective. Flow charts are a good start to establishing simple processes but as the business becomes more complex, so do the work processes. Some will automatically provide the flowchart symbols needed depending on the words or description of the steps and others generate analyses of the resulting process map. There are several available online and many are easy to use if one knows how to use document editing and spreadsheet applications.

Flow charts are one of the basic tools for business process mapping and FlowBreeze Flowchart Software produces exactly that. It has a word recognition feature which automatically places the correct flowchart symbol and adds the flow lines based on the words used. It is easy to edit and maintain flowcharts with this software.

The Graham Process Mapping Software facilitates the development of detailed process maps with several levels and up to 150 steps. This is ideal for complex processes utilizing many employees. Because it has the Audit feature in its Process Library, it is able to assess the process on a regular and scheduled basis. This allows easy identification and correction of redundancies and delays. Process improvement becomes easier with this automated assessment.

SigmaFlow Mapper is also another mapping software tool that automatically generates value analysis reports and identifies high value projects. It includes tools for process mapping, project prioritization, fishbone, C-T tree, statistical analysis, lean analysis and business process management.

A follow up set of software for SigmaFlow Mapper is the SigmaFlow Workbench which allows Six Sigma project selection as well project charter as plans for action, control, audit, data collection and Sarbanes-Oxley 404 analysis.

There are also training courses to effective business process mapping (available for managers) geared specifically for different quality management objectives and specific businesses.

Business process mapping tools are specifically designed to follow through from a simple process map. The end or ultimate goal of process mapping is to improve customer satisfaction. Many industries expand a lot of resources with just this end in view. Investing in software and training to facilitate process mapping, analysis, and eventually recommendations for improving the business, is money well spent.