DEFINE: Part 3

Abstract

The SIPOC is the first tool of the DMAIC for implementing a project. The columns of this simple list are predefined for specifying (internal) suppliers (S), their inputs (I), the related process steps (P), the resulting (intermediate) outputs (O), and their customer (C). In my opinion, the SIPOC is rather worthless in itself. But it fulfills important purposes in the tool chain. The first purpose is to determine the significant (intermediate) outputs, which then can be evaluated by the customer and manager in the subsequent VoC and VoB to identify the critical problems (CtQ). The second purpose is to define the limits of the project from the last relevant output to the first relevant input and thus to define the field of the project. And the third purpose is the transparency of the core process steps within this project field.