Knowing When It’s Time for Business Process Improvement
September 6, 2016
Chances are you use a number of business processes each day. Understanding these processes is important, but your work does not end there. In order to ensure that your company remains efficient and effective, you need to regularly evaluate and improve your processes. Effective processes lead to fewer errors, production delays, and duplicated efforts, as well as a happier staff and customer-base.
But how do you know if your processes need improvement? Below we will discuss some basic indications that you need to improve your business process.
Signs That It’s Time for Business Process Improvement
Sometimes it can be difficult to determine if your business processes are working. The best way to know when it’s time for business process improvement is to monitor issues in the workplace and look for troubling trends. There are a number of circumstances that may indicate you need to evaluate and improve your business processes:
- Resources are wasted. If you often find that your company is wasting resources, this is a sign that your processes are not as efficient as they could be.
- Costs increase. An increase in costs over time may indicate that your process is no longer as efficient as it once was.
- Employees get frustrated. Increased complaints from colleagues or a general feeling of angst in the office is never good for business. However, this may be a sign of a bigger issue, such as inefficient processes that don’t allow employees to get their work done effectively.
- Work has built up. If projects or deliverables begin to pile up, this can cause you to miss deadlines or deliver work that is below par. This may indicate it’s time to revisit your processes.
- Work is duplicated. Though this may not seem as big of an issue as work not being completed, duplication is a sign that your business is not running efficiently. The time and resources spent on the duplicated work could be put to better use.
- Customers complain about poor product or service. Though not every complaint may indicate that there is an issue with the process, an increase in complaints over time is a good reason to revisit your business processes.
Where a Consulting Firm Fits In
Have you ever heard the phrase “can’t see the forest for the trees”? This often becomes true of process improvement. Individuals in your organization get so involved with the small details of each process that they lose sight of the larger business goals. This can hinder your ability to analyze your processes effectively and make successful improvements.
This is where a business consulting firm comes in. Consultants from an outside firm are not entrenched in the details of day-to-day operations, so they are able to approach each process with an unbiased eye. With professionals who specialize in process improvement, a consulting firm can give your business new insight into why your processes are not running as smoothly as they could be and offer you effective steps for making improvements.
Is it time for you to improve your business process? We would love to talk. Qorval works side-by-side with your organization to help you realize your business goals. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help!