Process Discovery & Analysis Flashcards

What is the purpose of a 'value-added analysis' during process analysis?

Answer: To distinguish steps that add value from those that are waste or non-value-adding

Value-added analysis categorizes each process step as value-adding, business non-value-adding (necessary waste), or non-value-adding (pure waste), guiding which steps to eliminate or automate.

Which framework uses 'Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control' phases and is commonly applied during BPA process analysis?

Answer: DMAIC (Six Sigma)

DMAIC is a Six Sigma framework used to improve existing processes by systematically defining the problem, measuring current performance, analyzing root causes, implementing improvements, and controlling the new state.

A process audit reveals that a task is performed differently depending on which employee handles it. This is an example of:

Answer: Process variation

Process variation occurs when the same process produces inconsistent outputs or follows different steps based on the individual performing it, making standardization essential before automation.

What is a 'bottleneck' in process analysis?

Answer: A step in the process where work accumulates because capacity is less than demand

A bottleneck is a constraint in the process where throughput is limited, causing queues to build up because the step cannot handle the volume of incoming work, making it a high-priority target for optimization or automation.

Which of the following is the best indicator that a process is a strong candidate for automation?

Answer: The process is high-volume, rule-based, and uses structured digital data

High-volume, rule-based processes with structured digital data are ideal for automation because they can be fully defined with logic rules and benefit most from speed and consistency gains.

What does 'cycle time' measure in process analysis?

Answer: The total elapsed time from the start to the completion of a process instance

Cycle time measures the total time required to complete one instance of a process from beginning to end, serving as a key baseline metric to evaluate the impact of automation.

In process analysis, what does a 'handoff' refer to?

Answer: The point where work or responsibility passes from one person, team, or system to another

A handoff is a transition point in a process where ownership of a task moves from one party to another, and these transitions are common sources of delays, errors, and miscommunication that automation can eliminate.