A guide to using SIPOC

SIPOC is a visual tool used to document and improve business processes by highlighting the key elements of suppliers, inputs, processes, outputs, and customers. It provides a high-level overview that helps stakeholders understand and analyze the process, making it an essential part of methodologies like Six Sigma and DMAIC for process improvement. Unlike detailed process maps, SIPOC focuses on a singular stream with specific start and end points, emphasizing inputs and outputs over the detailed steps. By creating a SIPOC diagram, teams can identify potential areas for improvement, ensure transparency, and align stakeholders, ultimately supporting continuous process enhancement. It is particularly useful for new process design, cross-functional collaboration, and supplier evaluation, and serves as a centralized document for process understanding.