The Globalization of Supply Chains and its Implications for Trade and Commerce
Globalization of Supply Chains and its Implications We have discussed how the globalization of the world economy has made the globe more integrated and interconnected. While this has both positive and negative effects on the way global trade and commerce takes place, there is one critical aspect that needs our attention. That is to do […]
ERP Add on Products – SCM, SRM and WMS
Supply Chain Management (SCM): Improvement of supply chain is one of the last frontiers for improving productivity and supply chain visibility is the most important challenge faced by supply chain professionals. This is more relevant in the context of retail, consumer electrical and electronics industries where organizations are challenged by an environment of distributed operations, […]
Finance Intelligence and Its Components
Introduction In the modern global and competitive business world, it is very important to the companies to enjoy financial success. This financial success can be achieved through financial discipline, goal setting and periodic reviews. Companies which have enjoyed financial success are likely to see that trust among employees have increased; profit has improved, and employee […]
Warehouse Operational Efficiency and Inventory Health
Any warehouse operations are measured by service levels, volume of transactions handled quality of transactions and most importantly inventory health maintained. By Inventory health in a warehouse, we are referring to Physical Inventory Accuracy, the way inventory is physically kept in locations and discipline maintained in transactions, inventory maintained in the system. Inventory Health, in […]
What is Globalization ? – Meaning and its Importance
We often hear the word globalization in many contexts and repeated frequently as a concept to denote more trade, foreign companies and even the ongoing economic crisis. Before we launch into a full-fledged review of the term and its various manifestations, it is important to consider what exactly we mean when we say globalization. Globalization […]
Business Process Improvement programs have become the major tools for Organizations to keep working on their internal operations to enhance the operational efficiencies, to implement new processes in line with business requirement and to eliminate redundancies and wastage. When the Organizations used to be managed and run based on hierarchy and centralized decision making, the operations were dependent upon people. With the change in Organizational functioning and evolution of decentralized and process oriented organizational structure, the emphasis has shifted from people to process. With the help of technology Organist ions today depend upon technology and process driven operations which is lends itself to flexibility and adaptability to changes in the business environment and Customer expectations.
With change of business operations and flexibility becoming the order of the day, Organizations have come to adapt Business Process Improvement program as the tool to manage the change. The selection of the particular process that is to be subject to Business Improvement program is done by the Business Unit Head or the Executive Implementation team that sponsors and owns the program.
It is the Business Heads and the senior management who would be in the right position to identify the particular process that would impact the business and is critical for the operation. The success of a BPI program however largely depends upon the training and skill sets of the Process Improvement Team and its leader. Business process improvement involves choosing a process, determining the boundaries, identifying and listing the input and output data requirements as well as drawing up a block diagram. Once this has been achieved, then comes the process of applying measurement criteria and targets to the process with an aim to be able to measure, assess, observe and control the process.
Working on measuring, detailing and enhancing the process calls for use of statistical tools and problem solving tools etc. The exposure to these tools as well as the experience of the PIT leader and team will determine how well the project will be executed and improvements take place.
One of the basic tools used in Business Improvement projects is the Flow Chart. It is a fact that any idea or message that is communicated through picture is absorbed faster and better than being presented in the form of text or data. We understand and grasp pictures better than words. Flowcharts are nothing but graphical presentation of the process using symbols, lines and other simple combination of words with figures. A flowchart presentation of a process enables the reader to understand the process clearly, to follow the exact sequence as it exists and comprehend all the transactions involved in the process as well as the interdependencies that exist with other processes.
Similar to a map, a flow chart depicts the complete picture as it is and enables the reader or reviewer to navigate through, very easily. Flow charting the process helps explain the entire process with clarity. However lengthy or complicated the process is, flow chart is able to present the same in detail and in whole. Being able to see the entire process including each and every activity as well as the interdependencies etc, enables the reviewer to identify roadblocks, problem areas as well as operational problems. Flow chart helps train the process owners and staff in understanding the process with clarity and follow the same. Flow charts happen to be the best communication tools too.
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