Process Optimization broadly refers to making a process better. More specifically, it refers to improving one or more specific measures of a process so that the customers of the process receive greater value.
Measures of a process include:
Cycle time
Throughput
Yield
Defects
Labor
Cost
Anything that can be objectively measured
Process Optimization makes measures larger or smaller, depending on which is more favorable.
Optimizing cycle time would mean making it as small as possible if we want to make cycle time smaller. Process optimization results are subject to other considerations such as quality or other essential requirements.
Process Optimization may seek to reach a specific target value—no more or less, but generally, the goal is to minimize or maximize a measure.
For example:
Healthcare: Reducing the time to provider in a pediatric clinic. This is a cycle time Process Optimization.
Government: Processing more accurate vehicle registrations per 8 hour day. This is a throughput Process Optimization.
Finance: Reducing errors and rework in the monthly close process. This is a defect Process Optimization.
Once you identify a measure to improve within your process, Kure will help you precisely describe what you’re seeking to optimize using our Goal Statement Builder.
Ready to identify your optimization goal and start improving?