Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Output, Customers (SIPOC)

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A SIPOC is a high level process map that includes Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Output, and Customers.

Here’s presupposition: Quality is judged based on the output of a process. The quality is improved by analyzing inputs and process variables.

How To Create a SIPOC Diagram

1. Create an area that will allow the team to post additions to the SIPOC diagram.
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.

Once you have your SIPOC diagram, it will give you a visual indication of the high level issues that need to be addressed and stakeholders that might be involved.

SIPOC Diagram and SIPOC Video Tutorial

Building upon my prior article on Lean for Service Operations, here’s an example of a SIPOC Process Map is provided below, followed by a SIPOC Video Tutorial:

	This post was written by Pete Abilla