Process Approach – Detailed introduction and description

Introduction

This guidance document provides an understanding of the concepts, intent and the application of the “process approach” to the ISO 9000 family of Quality Management System standards. The guidance may also be used to apply the process approach to any management system regardless the type or the size of organization. This includes but is not limited to management systems for:

1. Environment (ISO 14000 family),
2. Occupational Health and Safety,
3. Business Risk,
4. Social Responsibility.

This guide also aims to promote a consistent approach to the description of processes and use of process related terminology.
The purpose of the process approach is to enhance an organization’s effectiveness and efficiency in achieving its defined objectives. In relation to ISO 9001:2008 this means enhancing customer satisfaction by meeting customer requirements.
Benefits of the process approach are:

1. Integration and alignment of processes to enable achievement of desired outcomes
2. Ability to focus effort on process effectiveness and efficiency.
3. Provision of confidence to customers, and other interested parties, about the consistent performance of the organization.
4. Transparency of operations within the organization.
5. Lower costs and creation of shorter cycle times, through the effective use of resources.
6. Improved, consistent and predictable results.
7. Provision of opportunities for focused and prioritized improvement initiatives.
8. Encouragement of the involvement of people and the clarification of their responsibilities.

A “Process” can be defined as a “set of interrelated or interacting activities, which transforms inputs into outputs”. These activities require allocation of resources such as people and materials. Figure 1 shows a generic process.
A major advantage of the process approach, when compared to other approaches, is in the management and control of the interactions between these processes and the interfaces between the functional hierarchies of the organization (as further explained in section 4).

Figure 1 – Generic process
Inputs and intended outputs may be tangible (such as equipment, materials or components) or intangible (such as energy or information). Outputs can also be unintended, such as waste or pollution.
Each process has customers and other interested parties (who may be either internal or external to the organization), with needs and expectations about the process, who define the required outputs of the process.
A system should be used to gather data to provide information about process performance, which should then be analyzed to determine if there is any need for corrective action or improvement.
All processes should be aligned with the objectives, scope and complexity of the organization, and should be designed to add value to the organization.
Process effectiveness and efficiency can be assessed through internal or external review processes.

3.1 References to processes in ISO 9001:2008:

ISO 9001:2008 states:

In sub clause 0.1 General: “The design and implementation of an organization‘s quality management system is influenced by: its business environment, changes in that environment, or risks associated with that environment; its varying needs; its particular objectives; the products it provides; the processes it employs; its size and organizational structure. It is not the intent of this International Standard to imply uniformity in the structure of quality management systems or uniformity of documentation”.
In sub clause 0.2 Process Approach: “The application of a system of processes within an organization, together with the identification and interactions of these processes, and their management to produce the desired outcome, can be referred to as the “process approach“.
In sub clause 4.1 General requirements: “The organization shall establish, document, implement and maintain a quality management system and continually improve its effectiveness in accordance with the requirements of this International Standard. The organization shall:
a) determine the processes needed for the quality management system and their application throughout the organization (see 1.2),
b) determine the sequence and interaction of these processes,
c) determine criteria and methods needed to ensure that both the operation and control of these processes are effective,
d) ensure the availability of resources and information necessary to support the operation and monitoring of these processes,
e) monitor, measure (where applicable), and analyse these processes, and
f) implement actions necessary to achieve planned results and continual improvement of these processes.
These processes shall be managed by the organization in accordance with the requirements of this International Standard”.
Based on the above, each organization should define the number and type of processes needed to fulfil its business objectives. It is permissible for a process that is required by ISO 9001:2008 to be part of a process (or processes) that is already established by the organization, or to be defined by the organization in terms that are different to those in ISO 9001.

3.2 Typical types of processes that can be identified:

In accordance with 3.1 above, organizations have to define the number and types of processes needed to fulfil their business objectives. While these will be unique to each organization, it is however possible to identify typical processes, such as:

1. Processes for the management of an organization. These include processes relating to strategic planning, establishing policies, setting objectives, ensuring communication, ensuring availability of resources for the other organization’s quality objectives and desired outcomes and for management reviews.
2. Processes for managing resources. These include all the processes that are necessary to provide the resources needed for the organization’s quality objectives and desired outcomes.
3. Realization processes. These include all processes that provide the desired outcomes of the organization.
4. Measurement, analysis and improvement processes. These include the processes needed to measure and gather data for performance analysis and improvement of effectiveness and efficiency. They include measuring, monitoring, auditing, performance analysis and improvement processes (e.g. for corrective and preventive actions). Measurement processes are often documented as an integral part of the management, resource and realization processes; whereas analysis and improvement processes are treated frequently as autonomous processes that interact with other processes, receive inputs from measurement results, and send outputs for the improvement of those processes.

A process approach is a powerful way of organizing and managing activities to create value for the customer and other interested parties.
Organizations are often structured into a hierarchy of functional units. Organizations are usually managed vertically, with responsibility for the intended outputs being divided among functional units.
The end customer or other interested party is not always visible to all involved. Consequently, problems that occur at the interface boundaries are often given less priority than the short-term goals of the units. This leads to little or no improvement to the interested party, as actions are usually focused on the functions, rather than on the intended output.
The process approach introduces horizontal management, crossing the barriers between different functional units and unifying their focus to the main goals of the organization.
It also improves the management of process interfaces (see Figure 2).

Figure 2 – Example of Process linkages across departments in an organization.

The performance of an organization can be improved through the use of the process approach. The processes are managed as a system, by creating and understanding a network of the processes and their interactions.

Note: The consistent operation of this network is often referred to as the “system approach” to management.
The outputs from one process may be inputs to other processes and interlinked into the overall network or system

The following implementation methodology can be applied to any type of process. The step sequence is only one method and is not intended to be prescriptive. Some steps may be carried out simultaneously.

5.1.Identification of processes of the organization

5.2 Planning of a process

5.3. Implementation and measurement of the process

Implement the processes and their activities as planned.

The organization may develop a project for implementation that includes, but is not limited to

1. Communication,
2. Awareness,
3. Training,
4. Change management,
5. Management involvement,
6. Applicable review activities.

Apply the controls, and perform the monitoring and measurements as planned.

5.4. Analysis of the process

Analyze and evaluate process information obtained from monitoring and measuring data, in order to quantify process performance. Where appropriate, use statistical methods.
Compare the results of process performance information with the defined requirements of the process, to confirm process effectiveness and efficiency and to identify any need for corrective action.
Identify process improvement opportunities based on the results of the analysis of process information.

Report to top management, and other relevant people in the organization, on the performance of the process, as appropriate.

5.5. Corrective action and improvement of the process

Whenever corrective actions are needed, the method for implementing them should be defined. This should include the identification and elimination of the root causes of the problems (e.g. errors, defects, lack of adequate process controls). The effectiveness of the actions taken should be reviewed. Implement the corrective actions and verify their effectiveness according to plan.

When planned process outcomes are being achieved and requirements fulfilled, the organization should focus its efforts on actions to improve process performance to higher levels, on a continual basis.
The method for improvement should be defined and implemented (examples of improvements include: process simplification, enhancement of efficiency, improvement of effectiveness, reduction of process cycle time). Verify the effectiveness of the improvement.

Risk analysis tools may be employed to identify potential problems. The root cause(s) of these potential problems should also be identified and eliminated, preventing occurrence in all processes with similarly identified risks
.
The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) methodology can be a useful tool to define, implement and control corrective actions and improvements. Extensive literature exists about the PDCA cycle in numerous languages.

PLAN >> Establish the objectives and processes necessary to deliver results in accordance with customer, statutory and regulatory requirements and the organization’s policies;

DO >> Implement the processes;

CHECK >> Monitor and measure processes and product against policies, objectives and requirements for the product and report the results;

ACT >> Take actions to continually improve process performance;”

The PDCA is a dynamic methodology that can be deployed within each of the organization’s processes and across their interactions. It is intimately associated with planning, implementation, verification and improvement.

Maintaining and improving process performance can be achieved by applying the PDCA concept at all levels within an organization. This applies equally to all processes, from high-level strategic processes to simple operational activities.