Better Business Processes: How to Analyse Your Workflow
Analysing the workflow of your business is an important step in improving your business processes. By taking the time to understand how effective your existing processes are, you can identify areas of inefficiency and ensure you aren’t losing time, money, resources or customer satisfaction.
Marino Sussich is an expert in the field of business consultancy, and has a strong understanding of efficiency and how to maximise business performance. Find out more about how to maximise your business success with workflow analysis.
The importance of efficient processes
Efficient processes are ultimately useful for 5 reasons:
- 1. They increase productivity and eliminate unnecessary steps to ensure tasks are completed faster and with more accuracy.
- 2. Well-made processes save on wasted resources or errors that cost the business, saving money.
- 3. Accuracy and speed in workflow lead to improved customer satisfaction as their needs are met quickly.
- 4. Efficient processes lead to better resource management.
- 5. They increase agility, meaning the business will be more adaptable to market shifts.
4 steps to analyse the efficiency of your workflow
- 1. Define the workflow
You need to define the workflow of the business before you can begin to analyse it. A workflow is ultimately a series of steps or tasks that a project goes through from beginning to end. To define the current process, you should break down the current steps involved from start to end of business operation.
If you manufacture products to be sold, the method may look like this:
Order materials > Receive materials > Store materials > Process materials > Assemble product > Package product > Ship product > Receive payment
- 2. Identify bottlenecks
A bottleneck is a place in this production line where activity seems to slow or stop, leading to inefficiency. Each individual step in the mechanisms of business operation should be carefully examined for delays.
For example, the delivery timeframe of the materials is something that may involve delays. It could also take more time than necessary to process the materials, assemble the product or package the product. New workflow options should be brainstormed in these areas where operation slows.
- 3. Optimise processes
Once areas of inefficiency have been identified, workflow can begin to be optimised to eliminate bottlenecks and streamline operations.
Some options to optimise might involve improving communication in certain areas, automating tasks with technology or redesigning the workflow. For example, if you have an inefficient manufacturing process due to delays in receiving materials, some ideas for optimisation could involve seeking a new supplier or attempting to negotiate faster delivery. Processing materials or assembling the product could also be automated for faster production.
- 4. Monitor workflow
Finally, after optimisation, processes should be regularly monitored to track progress and identify new inefficiencies as they arise. Monitoring ensures your strategies are effective and identifies any need for adjustment.
Some performance metrics for monitoring include cycle time (the time it takes to complete a task), throughput (the number of tasks completed per unit of time), work in progress (tasks currently in progress) and lead time (time to complete a task from start to finish).
Maximise efficiency with Marino Sussich
If you are struggling to maximise your business processes, a consulting firm will be able to identify strategies to streamline your workflow with ease and maximise success. Marino Robert Sussich is a successful business owner and operator and sits among the most reliable management consultants. Contact Marino Robert Sussich today for tailored business advice.
