Superior processes have been at the forefront of helping companies achieve a competitive advantage for decades. Leveraging technology and people, the key differentiator is in an organization’s ability to orchestrate a group of interrelated activities that together create value for the customer. With superior processes – you maximize value and eliminate waste. Since the 1980s when companies like Motorola introduced the techniques for Six Sigma, various terminologies have made their way to the forefront in driving process excellence: Process Re-engineering (1990s), Business Process Transformation, (2000s), and Digital Transformation (2010s). In fact, the concept of lean processes was introduced in the early 20th century at Ford and refined decades later at Toyota.
I easily harken back to my days at Accenture and serving as the lead instructor for the roll-out of Michael Hammer’s Process Excellence Principles to a group of several hundred consultants. These principles were the core to helping my clients re-invent their organizations by focusing on 5 key principles.
- Process Outcomes Create Value
- Target High Value Processes
- Innovate, Don’t’ Duplicate
- Excellent Processes Need Excellent Owners
- You Get What You Measure
These principles help companies achieve superior business performance in the areas of market share, profitability and industry leadership. Process design needs to focus on:
- Simplicity and flexibility
- Compressing time
- Providing real-time feedback
- Maximizing value
- Eliminating waste
- Customer focus and user friendliness
Processes also need to be actively owned and managed, measured, supported by technology and performed by people who are trained in the process. If you would like to learn more about how to achieve Process Excellence contact me at mflatow@meftac.net or message me on twitter.
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