Process mapping

A good process map makes it easy for employees to get an overview of the business. How should you go about drawing a good process map?
ISO 9001 encourages us to work process-based. The challenge for most businesses is to create clear process maps that all employees can easily identify with. It is also important to be able to easily see what my area of responsibility is and how this area of responsibility is connected to the rest of the business.
First: Why process maps
An organizational chart is a vertical and functional description of the business. An organizational chart does not say anything about what we do, who we do it for, or how we do it.

A process map, on the other hand, shows the organization as a system where the customer, the product, and the workflow are interconnected. It makes it possible to see how work is actually done through processes that cut across functional boundaries and departments.
ISO 9001 is very specific here and requires you to identify processes and manage them to meet customer expectations. Managing according to processes is therefore necessary if you want to hold an ISO certification and is always recommended.
Establishing a process map helps the employee see the entire production line instead of just focusing on maximizing their goals within their own department.
Process categories

Core process
Support process
Management process
Process mapping in practice
1. Silent brainstorming
2. Patches up the wall:
3. Silent sorting:
4. Name each group of notes.

Building a process map
A good process map is an important foundation in building a simple and understandable management system - regardless of the standard you are going to implement, so after a good process mapping you have a good basis for building your own graphical process map. In our management system it is made easy. There are functions to design each box as you want when it comes to size, color and desired icon. You also design the desired text and relationship between the boxes with graphic elements such as arrows and lines.
Although the rich functionality enables advanced process maps, we recommend making these maps as simple as possible. Remember that they should provide valuable information not only to the certifier or quality manager, but perhaps first and foremost to each individual employee.
Then the process map must be easy to understand and easy to use. Our software has powerful features to connect all relevant information to the individual process, such as:
All information on a sub-process is available directly from the process map in QM365 Manage.
- Process description - documentation visible directly in the map (Click on the image to see a larger version).
- Documents - governance documents, templates and registrations
- Activities - additional documentation in text boxes
- Risks
- Laws and requirements
- Goal
- Links to relevant websites and tools
IN 4human At QM365, we have extensive experience in helping our customers create simple and good process maps!