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

4
#

#
OC

OC

OC

OC
SIP

SIP

SIP

SIP
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)
Best-in-class SIPOC Diagram (template)
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)