Discover the SIPOC Diagram's Definition, Benefits, and More
While discussing the business process with your team, it is a great idea to make the process visual. This is because a visual business process can help your team members understand the process better so that you can make a more precise decision and work together with a clearer orientation. This is why a SIPOC diagram is important for you. With this diagram, you can make your business process visual. Now, you might wonder what does SIPOC stand for and what it means. Well, you can find the answers in this article. If you are still confused about this sudden word or want to learn more about its definition and more, please read the following content.
- Part 1. What is SIPOC
- Part 2. COPIS vs SIPOC
- Part 3. How to Create a SIPOC Diagram
- Part 4. FAQs about What is a SIPOC Diagram
Part 1. What is SIPOC
SIPOC meaning and elements
The meaning of A SIPOC chart is that it is a visual effect of the business process from suppliers to customers. SIPOC is the abbreviation of Suppliers, Inputs, Processes, Outputs, and Customers. To expound SIPOC better, we will give a simple explanation of SIPOC's five elements.
Suppliers are the party that provides what an organization needs for a specific task, project, etc. It is the beginning party for a work process. Without suppliers, we can not even initiate a project.
Inputs need you to clarify what resources you need to put into a project so that it can be completed. It can be human resources or materials.
Process means the steps and proceeding phase a project needs to achieve. It normally has many different stages. Generally speaking, different stages need different processing ways. So, clarifying the Process section can help you make better predictions and responses to the next steps.
Outputs generally mean the results you get after material supply, resource input, and task propulsion. But it isn’t the endpoint of your task.
Customers are the takers of the outputs. It endows your outputs with value. It can also give you feedback on the outputs so that you can optimize the workflow and do better.
Overall, depicting these data in a diagram can help entrepreneurs and managers analyze the business process efficiently for a process improvement result. It was enforced as early as the late 1980s and is still in use nowadays in business management. Managers have adopted the SIPOC model to define the suppliers, requirements, and the results they hope.
Benefits of SIPOC
SIPOC has many benefits in work management. One of the most important advantages of it is that it clarifies the workflow, improving the transparency in an organization. Moreover, clarifying the work process can help leaders and workers have a clearer overview of the whole work process so that they can make more accurate decisions. For new employees, it can also help them learn the workflow and get started as soon as possible. With the SIPOC chart, the manager can also integrate the different sections of the company better. Overall, SIPOC can help every member of a company have a whole overview of the workflow so that each can arrange their work better.
Part 2. COPIS vs SIPOC
COPIS is the reverse version of SIPOC. It has the same elements as SIPOC but in a reverse order. It places customers in the first place, outputs, processes, inputs, and suppliers subsequently. As its order hints to you, COPIC's main difference from SIPOC is its high attention to the importance of customers. It requires you to consider the needs and requirements of the customers first and decide what outputs you should produce. Then, it will lead you to decide the process that will get the outputs you want. After knowing the process, you can decide what inputs you need and which suppliers you should choose. In this way, the business can avoid resource wasting to the greatest extent and satisfy customers better. The main difference between COPIC and SIPOC is that the former focuses mainly on customer satisfaction but the latter on process management.
So, when to use SIPOC or COPIS? You might have a basic idea. Yes, if you want to understand an existing process and improve it, you can try SIPOC. However, if you want to design and produce a product or service according to the customer's needs, try COPIS.
Part 3. How to Create a SIPOC Diagram
With so many benefits, you must want to know how to create a SIPOC analysis diagram to optimize the workflow. Well, that will be easy with a proper tool and I recommend you try MindOnMap, an easy-to-use and powerful chart-making solution. You can use it to create ideas online or on a computer. In addition to the SIPOC chart, you can also use it to create article outlines, work plans, notes, travel plans, and more. See more features of MindOnMap below.
• It provides different and practical templates to help you draw a SIPOC diagram.
• Personalize the SIPOC chart with unique icons.
• Insert images and links to your SIPOC diagram.
• Share the SIPOC diagram via the link.
• Export the chart in JPG, PNG, PDF, DOC, SVG, and more.
Now, how to create a SIPOC diagram with MindOnMap?
Launch MindOnMap online or on your computer and log in to your account. After that, you can click the plus button to select a template you prefer.
Now, you can start to edit your SIPOC diagram. You can click the Topic and Subtopic button to add more elements to your diagram. Add topics and components to enrich your diagram. If you are not satisfied with the effect it presents, you can also go to the right sidebar to select another theme.
After depicting your SIPOC chart to your satisfaction level, you can click the save button to download it or click the share button to share it via a link.
Part 4. FAQs about What is a SIPOC Diagram
What is the difference between a SIPOC diagram and a process map?
SIPOC is an overview of the project process, which might lack much detailed information. However, creating a process map can explore more detail in the process.
What is SIPOC in Agile methodology?
Agile methodology is a project management solution in which SIPOC plays a role in the overall situation overview.
What are the disadvantages of a SIPOC diagram?
The SIPOC diagram is an overview of the whole project process and it can help leaders make a more precise decision about a project. But it might lack some details about the process.
Conclusion
In this post, we give a concrete analysis of the SIPOC diagram, including its basic elements, benefits, and the steps to create an SIPOC chart. Now, you might know what SIPOC is used for. If you are a business manager, don’t hesitate to try it to improve process management with a clearer overview. If your company is customer-oriented, you can also try its reverse version, the COPIC chart. And no matter what kind of chart you want to create, you can try the great chart mapping tool MindOnMap.
