SIPOC stands for Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs, Customers. A SIPOC is a high-level description of a process, providing an understanding of the boundaries of the process described.
Here are a few tips to build a good SIPOC:
- Think about visualizing the process from outside
- Start with Outputs and Customers: list them ALL
- Then, fill in Suppliers and Inputs. Again, the list should be exhaustive.
- Finally, describe the process with 5 to 7 macro-steps
- Process steps should be formulated with verbs (representing the actions), Suppliers and Customers should be people or systems, Inputs and Outputs should be materialized documents
What you can take away from a SIPOC:
- Outputs not directly linked to any Customer are typical wastes (scrap or over-processing). As a quick win, try to stop producing outputs not directed to any customer.
- A SIPOC is very helpful to communicate easily and transparently on a process, with someone not performing the tasks daily. It helps to structure a discussion on a problem linked to a non transparent process, as it aligns the understanding of an invisible flow.
- The Customers being linked exhaustively and the Process steps being described at a high-level, the SIPOC helps to prepare the collection of the Voice of the Customer and Voice of the Process.
The Process Excellence String of Ariadne 