SIPOC Diagram

The SIPOC diagram includes a high-level map of the process, showing its basic steps. Through the process, the suppliers provide input. The process adds value, resulting in output that meets or exceeds the customer expectations. By analyzing the SIPOC diagram, the team recognized that the current process included good review and approval steps for the help text, a step towards meeting all the CTQ elements.

The tool name prompts the team to consider the Suppliers (the 'S' in SIPOC) of your process, the Inputs (the 'I') to the process, the Process (the 'P') your team is improving, the Outputs (the 'O') of the process, and the Customers (the 'C') that receive the process outputs. In some cases, Requirements of the Customers can be appended to the end of the SIPOC for further detail.

When Should You Use SIPOC?

The SIPOC tool is particularly useful when it is not clear:

    * Who supplies inputs to the process?

    * What specifications are placed on the inputs?

    * Who are the true customers of the process?

    * What are the requirements of the customers?

Here are the steps you should follow:

   1. Create an area that will allow the team to post additions to the SIPOC diagram. This could be a transparancy (to be projected by an overhead) made of the provided template, flip charts with headings (S-I-P-O-C) written on each, or headings written on post-it notes posted to a wall.

   2. Begin with the Process. Map it in four to five high level steps.

   3. Identify the Outputs of this Process.

   4. Identify the Customers that will receive the Outputs of this Process.

   5. Identify the Inputs required for the Process to function properly.

   6. Identify the Suppliers of the Inputs that are required by the Process.

   7. Optional: Identify the preliminary requirements of the Customers. This will be verified during a later step of the Six Sigma measurement phase.

   8. Discuss with Project Sponsor, Champion, and other involved stakeholders for verification.