SIPOC DIAGRAM

Best-In-Class Template
Analysis and Recommendation
Purpose of a SIPOC Diagram
 Identifies all elements of a Process Improvement Project before
work begins
 Helps define and refine a complex project that might not be well
scoped
 Helps answer questions such as:
 Where does the process start and end?
 What are the major steps in the process?
 What are the primary process inputs and outputs?
 Who are the key customers of the process (both internal and external)?
 Who are the key suppliers of the process (both internal and external)?
 What are the requirements of the customers?
 Provides a deep understanding of the current process
SIPOC Diagram Example
Suppliers Inputs Process Outputs Customer
(Specifications) (Name) (Requirements)

Step/Activity1

Step Activity #2

.
.
.

Step Activity #n
SIPOC Diagram Example
SIPOC Diagram Example
SIPOC Diagram Example
Process: Name of Process
Process Inputs (x) Type Process Step Outputs (y)
Input 1:
Input 2:
Input 3:
Input 4: STEP ONE
Input 5:
Input 6:

Process Inputs (x) Type Process Step Outputs (y)

Input 1:
Input 2:
Input 3:
Input 4: STEP TWO
Input 5:
Input 6:

Process Inputs (x) Type Process Step Outputs (y)

Input 1:
Input 2:
Input 3:
Input 4: STEP THREE
Input 5:
Input 6:
Matrix Comparison- SIPOC Diagrams
 

Supplier X X X
Inputs X X X X
Processes As
Text X X
Process Flow
Charted X X
Outputs X X X X
Customers X X X
Enablers X X
Input Metrics X
Process Metrics X
Output Metrics X
Metrics by Type X
Multi Process
Capable X
Best-in-class SIPOC Diagram (completed)
Suppliers Input Process Output Customers
Process description:
Developing a Data Warehouse
Project Manager Flat Files Data Warehouse Senior Management
Vendors Project Description Data Extracts Business Owners
IT Staff RFP Goal Data Cubes Report Consumers
Develope
Source Systems Requirements Procure Reports Senior IT Management
Data
Project Manager Project Description Hardware Infrastructure IT Staff
Warehouse
Hardware Vendors RFP Goal Reporting Software
Project Manager Requirements
Software Vendors
IT Consultants
Procure
Source Systems
Software

Metrics Metrics Metrics

Time to Load # of Steps Data Integrity
Terabytes Loaded # of Automated Steps Report Usage
Cost Goals/Restraints Time to Complete Process Cost of Package
Time to Load Time to Complete Process Cost of Hardware
Terabytes Loaded # of Steps Cost of Maintenance
Cost of Packaged
# of Automated Steps Software
Time to Complete Process Data Integrity
Report Usage
Cost of Package
Cost of Staff
Best-in-class SIPOC Diagram (template)

Suppliers Input Process Output Customers

Process description:
Brief description of entire process here

STEP STEP STEP

ONE TWO THREE

STEP STEP STEP

FOUR FIVE SIX

Metrics Metrics Metrics

SIPOC Operational Definitions
 Suppliers: The individuals, departments, or organizations that
provide the materials, information, or resources that are worked
on in the process being analyzed

 Inputs: The information or materials provided by the suppliers.

Inputs are transformed, consumed, or otherwise used by the
process (materials, forms, information, etc.)

 Process: The macro steps (typically 4-6) or tasks that transform

the inputs into outputs: the final products or services

 Outputs: The products or services that result from the process.

SIPOC Operational Definitions
 Customers: The individuals, departments, or organizations that
receive the outputs, the products or services, generated by the
process

 Input Metric: Quantitative measurements used to define quality,

time or cost of the inputs

 Process Metric: Quantitative measurements used to define

quality, time or cost of the process

 Output Metric: Quantitative measurements used to define

quality, time or cost of the output
Sources
http://finance.isixsigma.com/library/content/c060322a.asp

http://www.army.mil/armybtkc/focus/cpi/tools3.htm#img1

http://www.asq.org/sixsigma/tools-exchange/docs/sipoc-diagram-template.doc

http://www.isixsigma.com/library/content/c010429a.asp

http://www.minitab.com/products/qualitycompanion/tools/sipoc.aspx

http://www.pd-trak.com/sixsigma.htm

http://www.powerandsystems.com/EN/resources/articles_associates/lilla.html

http://www.willdo.com.au/Downloads/ProcessImprovementModulesDemo.doc

http://www.anticlue.net/archives/000760.htm

Information Source: Peter S. Pande, Robert P. Neuman, Roland R. Cavanagh, The Six Sigma Way – Team
Handbook, (New York, McGraw-Hill, 2002)