How to improve your processes (beyond simple streamlining)
Once you are clear on which processes or tasks you need to automate, the next step is to review the process design, and ensure they're as simple and effective as possible.
Remember, automating simple processes that are inherently more predictable, is much easier than automating complex processes that are reliant on human intervention. Below, we have outlined a couple of our favourite, commonly overlooked, process improvement techniques beyond the classic streamlining.
1. Moving decision points
Go/No Go decisions should be made as early as possible in a process; you can use ballpark decisions to make this feasible. Additionally, decisions should be made as close to the point the process is delivered as possible; this avoids delays from unnecessary escalations.
2. Parallel processing
Sounds obvious, but perform tasks in parallel wherever possible. Start tasks as soon as practical and don’t wait for previous tasks to end before starting others.
3. Moving elements from intrinsic to extrinsic
This is useful if reducing process cycle time is your main objective. Any part of the process that can be pre-done will reduce the overall cycle time of your process. Challenge every part of the process and see if it can be done before or after the customer is involved.
Streamlining - done right
Of course, streamlining is an excellent way to improve your processes, but it needs to be done in a systematic way. Instead of simply hacking away at your processes, use Lean Thinking to help you identify where value is added in your processes and then use the 7-wastes tool to eliminate the non-value adding activity.
