Factors That Affect Process Design

The design of a process requires attention to detail and a great deal of questioning. Each step in the process must be documented. At the same time, questions such as, "Why the process is necessary and who is affected by the process?" must be answered.

The cost of the needed hardware or software can affect the design of a process. If the technology is cost-prohibitive, the company may design extra steps into the process to accommodate its needs. For example, if a company needs to create 1,000 items per hour but the machinery is too expensive, the company may extend the employees' working hours or days or the company may send the overage amount out to a smaller vendor to process. The process would change to include the new work times or the external vendor.

People affect the process design. Stress, employee morale and fatigue have an impact on the execution of a process. Leaders should consider these factors when designing the process. For instance, requiring data entry clerks to work four 12-hour shifts will create errors in the information entered into the system.

If a company is affected by politics, the regulatory environment can affect the design of a process. The government may prohibit or inhibit certain business practices. These regulations can increase the cost of a process or increase its cycle time. For example, a chemical in antifreeze tastes pleasant to small animals. State legislatures have required that an additional chemical be added to make the antifreeze unappealing. The company's process would change to include the addition of the new chemical.