SIPOC

2012 Six Sigma Qualtec

SIPOC

Version 1.0.0

Value of a SIPOC
uSIPOCs provide an understanding of a process

by easily identifying what activities take place in

the process, who has a hand in producing the
output, who receives the output and how all the
various stakeholders measure success.
uIdentifies all elements of a project as well as

refining the project if its not well scoped.

uBuilds the information to proceed with more

detailed mapping & root cause analysis, if

warranted and desired

2012 Six Sigma Qualtec

SIPOC

SIPOC Requirements
u Clearly define the start and stop points
u Establish key process metrics
u Identify the components of a process and their

owners
u Identify all the suppliers and their inputs to a
process
u Identify all the customers and the output they
receive
u Establish customer and all stakeholder
requirements and how they measure success
2012 Six Sigma Qualtec

SIPOC

Definition of a Process
u A process is a group of steps, tasks, or activities

that has a beginning and an end.

u A process takes inputs, for example materials,
information, and people, and in some way changes
them to produce an output.
u Simply, it can be seen as: input-process-output.

Input

2012 Six Sigma Qualtec

Process

Output

SIPOC

Examples of Common Processes

u
u

Scheduling production
Queuing customer service

u
u
u

u
u
u

Repairing or maintaining a
product
Billing
Preparing an annual report

u
u
u

Distributing mail
Budgeting
Entering Orders
Answering telephones
Communicating
Coaching or teaching

Every organization has hundreds, if not thousands of work

processes. To understand the organization, you must
understand its processes! Before you can change a
process, you need to describe and characterize it!
2012 Six Sigma Qualtec

SIPOC

SIPOC Model
Inputs

Supplier
Supplier

Process
Process

(Added
(AddedValue)
Value)

Outputs

Customer
Customer

Activities

Requirements
Requirementsand
andFeedback
Feedback
(Product
(Productand
andProcess)
Process)

Requirements
Requirementsand
andFeedback
Feedback
(Product
(Productand
andProcess)
Process)

A SIPOC is a visual view of the Charter that helps to align

the team to the project scope and goals
2012 Six Sigma Qualtec

SIPOC

Process Components
u Before you begin the task of graphically displaying

the structure of your process, take some time to

describe the major components of the process in
keeping with the fundamental definition of a
process. A process has these components:
Boundaries
p
Activities
p
Participants
p
Process Owners
p
Stakeholders
p
Customers & Requirements
p
Outputs
p
Inputs & Suppliers
2012 Six Sigma Qualtec
p

(continued)
SIPOC

Process Components cont.

Process Boundaries
u

Boundaries: the start and stop points of the

process to be considered for this project team.

u The process boundaries determine the scope of

your mapping effort, and the project.

u Dont place the boundaries too far apart.
p

Think about a problem definition and use existing

knowledge of the problem to help set these
boundaries.

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SIPOC

Process Components cont.

Process Activities (or Steps)
u

Process Activities (or Steps): these are the actual

activities taking place within the boundaries. Name
all steps taken to convert the inputs into outputs.

u You can initially be as detailed as you like. All the

steps can be grouped into higher order categories

at a later point in time. All that is happening is that
youre naming activities in sub-processes.
u Make sure the activities truly lie within the
boundaries. If the boundaries are set as a function
of the problem statement and you stray outside the
boundaries, you are outside the problem
statement.
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SIPOC

Process Components cont.

Process Participants
u Participants: The people who actually perform the

tasks of the process.

u Every person who plays a role in the conversion of

inputs into outputs should be included in your list of

participants. In general, you should list participants
by name, title, or function.

(continued)
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Process Components cont.

Process Owners
u

Process Owner: The person who is ultimately

responsible for the process and its output.

In general, process owners are the key decision

makers for the process. They allocate and control
participants, manage inputs, outputs, and resources,
and control most of the financial components of the
process.
u The process owner is the voice of the process and
answers to both good and bad performance of the
process.
(continued)
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11

Process Components cont.

Process Stakeholders
u

Stakeholders: Individuals or organizations whose

success in other areas depends on this process.
Any person impacted by the process or the output
of the process.

Note: The customer may also be considered a

Stakeholder

(continued)
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12

Process Components cont.

Customers
u Customer: The person, persons or organizations

that use the output of the process.

u The Customer determines the requirements for

what would define a successful output.

u Customers may be internal or external to your
organization. In either case, they generally use
your output as an input to one or more of their own
processes.
u Most important, understand specifically, what it
takes to make them happy!
(continued)
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13

Process Components cont.

Output Requirements
u Requirements: What your customer needs, wants,

or expects of your output.

u In general, customers want three things of your

output.
p

They want it better, faster, and cheaper

u Requirement should be specific and measurable

(continued)
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14

Process Components cont.

Process Outputs
u Output: The tangible product or intangible service

that is created by the process and passed on to the

customer.
u Outputs have two components that can be

described by a noun and a verb: A thing is done.

p
p
p

Applications have been processed.

Machines have been repaired.
Ore has been mined.

u By expressing your outputs in a noun and verb

format, you are forced to look at both the end

product and the actions that are required to make it
(continued)
happen.
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15

Process Components cont.

Process Inputs and Suppliers
u Inputs: The materials, equipment, information,

people, money, or other conditions that are

required to perform the process.
u Suppliers: The people, functions, or organizations

who supply the process with its inputs.

(continued)
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16

Diagram the Process - Block Diagrams

u A block diagram is the simplest type of process

map. It provides a quick and uncomplicated view of

the process.
u Only rectangles for major process steps and
diamonds for major decision points connected by
lines with arrows are used in this type of map. The
arrows indicate direction of flow.
u Use block diagrams to simplify large and complex
processes.

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17

Diagram the Process - Block Diagrams

Block Diagram Example
u The block diagram below outlines the general

structure of a travel vacation:

Select
Destination and
Buy Tickets

Travel to
Destination

Relax and
See Sights

Travel
Home

Within each block, there are many more activities.

Block diagrams do not generally provide enough

detail for problem-solving. Use them only to help
guide you towards the identification of your process
boundaries.

2012 Six Sigma Qualtec

SIPOC

18

Basic Steps to Build a SIPOC

Inputs

Supplier
Supplier

Process
Process

(Added
(AddedValue)
Value)

Outputs

Customer
Customer

Activities

Requirements
Requirementsand
andFeedback
Feedback
(Product
(Productand
andProcess)
Process)

Requirements
Requirementsand
andFeedback
Feedback
(Product
(Productand
andProcess)
Process)

(continued)
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SIPOC

19

Basic Steps to Build a SIPOC cont.

1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
5.
5.
6.
6.
7.
7.
8.
8.
9.
9.
10.
10.
11.
11.
12.
12.

Name
Name itit - Define process to be reviewed
Bound-it
Bound-it Define
Define the
the process start and stop points
Identify
Identify the
the process
process owner
owner
Identify
Identify the
the process
process output(s)
output(s)
Identify
Identify the
the process
process customer(s)
customer(s)
Identify
Identify the
the customers
customers requirements
requirements for
for the
the each
each output.
output.
Identify
Identify the
the process
process inputs
inputs
Identify
Identify suppliers
suppliers who
who provide
provide the
the inputs
inputs
Brainstorm
Brainstorm process
process steps
steps
Organize
Organize process
process steps
steps in
in sequence
sequence
Number
Number steps
steps
Validate
Validate the
the process
process with
with aa walk
walk through"
through" of
of the
the actual
actual process.
process.
(continued)

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20

Basic Steps to Build a SIPOC cont.

1
Process
Name
2
Process
Owner

Suppliers

Inputs

Outputs

Start

Stop

Customers

Requirements

9,10,11, 12
1

Constructing the SIPOC in this specific order will greatly

facilitate the teams ease with this task
2012 Six Sigma Qualtec

SIPOC

21

Example SIPOC
Vacation Process
Process Owner: C Pacheco
Suppliers

Inputs

Process

Output

Start
Airlines
Hotels
Tour
providers
Cruise
line

Trip
information

Decide
to take
a trip
Select
Destination

Customer/
Requirements

Completed
trip
Satisfied
customer
Buy Tickets

Travel to
Destination

Relax and
See Sights

Travel dates
Trip budget

Travel
Home

Stop

Arrive
Home

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22

Summary
u

A SIPOC defines the process at a high level and identifies

key components:
Supplier
Input
Process
Output
Customer

Whoever provides the input to your process

The material or data that a process does
something to or with
The activities you must perform to satisfy your
customers requirements
The material or data that results from the
operation of the process
Whoever receives the output of your process

A SIPOC is used ensure all variables related to the problem

statement are considered.

2012 Six Sigma Qualtec

SIPOC

23

Examples and Templates

2012 Six Sigma Qualtec

SIPOC

24

SIPOC Diagram Example #1a

List
Suppliers
Here

Insert
Process
Step 1

2012 Six Sigma Qualtec

List
Inputs
Here

Insert
Process
Step 2

List
Outputs
Here

Insert
Process
Step 3

List
Customers
Here

Insert
Process
Step 4

List
Requirements
Here

Insert
Process
Step 5

SIPOC

SIPOC Diagram Example #1b

Suppliers

Inputs
(Specifications)

Process
(Name)

Outputs
(Requirements)

Step/Activity1

Step Activity #2

.
.
.

Step Activity #n

2012 Six Sigma Qualtec

SIPOC

Customer

SIPOC Diagram Example #2

2012 Six Sigma Qualtec

SIPOC

SIPOC Diagram Example #3

2012 Six Sigma Qualtec

SIPOC

SIPOC Diagram Example #4

Process:
Process Inputs (x)
Input
Input
Input
Input
Input
Input

1:
2:
3:
4:
5:
6:

Input
Input
Input
Input
Input
Input

1:
2:
3:
4:
5:
6:

Input
Input
Input
Input
Input
Input

1:
2:
3:
4:
5:
6:

Type

Name of Process
Process Step

Outputs (y)

STEP ONE

Process Inputs (x)

Type

Process Step

Outputs (y)

STEP TWO

Process Inputs (x)

2012 Six Sigma Qualtec

Type

Process Step

Outputs (y)

STEP THREE

SIPOC

Matrix Comparison- SIPOC Diagrams

Supplier
Inputs
Processes As
Text
Process Flow
Charted
Outputs
Customers
Enablers
Input Metrics
Process Metrics
Output Metrics
Metrics by Type

X
X

X
X

X
X

X
X

X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Multi Process
Capable
2012 Six Sigma Qualtec

X
SIPOC

Completed Best-in-class SIPOC Diagram

Suppliers

Input

Process

Output

Customers

Data Warehouse
Data Extracts
Data Cubes
Reports
Infrastructure
Reporting Software

Senior Management
Business Owners
Report Consumers
Senior IT Management
IT Staff

Process description:
Developing a Data Warehouse
Project Manager
Vendors
IT Staff
Source Systems
Project Manager
Hardware Vendors
Project Manager
Software Vendors
IT Consultants
Source Systems

Flat Files
Project Description
RFP Goal
Requirements
Project Description
RFP Goal
Requirements

Develope
Data
Warehouse

Procure
Hardware

Procure
Software

Metrics
Time to Load
Terabytes Loaded
Cost Goals/Restraints
Time to Load
Terabytes Loaded

Metrics
# of Steps
# of Automated Steps
Time to Complete Process
Time to Complete Process
# of Steps
# of Automated Steps
Time to Complete Process

2012 Six Sigma Qualtec

Metrics
Data Integrity
Report Usage
Cost of Package
Cost of Hardware
Cost of Maintenance
Cost of Packaged
Software
Data Integrity
Report Usage
Cost of Package
Cost of Staff

SIPOC

Best-in-class SIPOC Diagram (template)

Suppliers

Input

Process

Output

Process description:
Brief description of entire process here

STEP
ONE

STEP
FOUR

Metrics

2012 Six Sigma Qualtec

STEP
TWO

STEP
FIVE

Metrics

STEP
THREE

STEP
SIX

Metrics

SIPOC

Customers