Dr. W. Edward Deming is recognized as the father of the modern Quality Movement that ignited new ideas and focused energy on process improvement. He contributed to Japan’s economic recovery after World War II, largely through his influence over manufacturing processes.
Dr. Deming was a champion of systems and processes. At one point, he made this poignant statement: “If you cannot define what you are doing as a process, you do not understand what you are doing.”
The seemingly simple task of defining work in terms of a process can be more difficult than expected. It requires attention to detail, consistency, and collaboration with others who are involved in the process. However, the reward to investing this time and energy is a deep understanding of the work, leading to increased efficiency and quality.
A process is defined as a series of actions or steps taken to achieve consistent outcomes. This definition highlights the key goal of a process, which is to achieve consistent outcomes.
Effective processes allow an organization to perform its functions in a consistent manner regardless of which team members are involved, resulting in a product or service that is highly dependable.
The Significance of Process
In the pursuit of achieving consistent outcomes, why is it so important to focus on process? The 85/15 Rule, which originates from Dr. Deming, makes it clear. He observed that 85% of trouble, errors, and defects in a work environment stem from the system in which people work, while only 15% is due to carelessness, negligence, or employee deficiencies. This means that 85% of improvement opportunities lie within the process, while only 15% are within the people who work in the process.
Contrary to popular belief, his observation revealed that when a process is not delivering consistent results, the place to start is with the process, not the people. This finding carries enormous implications for any company or organization. Rather than looking to individuals to correct or explain issues with consistency, it is far more beneficial to look to the process.
This is not to say that processes should be created without regard for the people involved. Leaders have the responsibility to work on departmental processes that help ensure success for the staff. Staff have the responsibility to work in the process. Often, the people who work in the process have valuable insights to offer to those working on the process. Two-way communication is essential to creating the most successful processes.
Master Processes can have a significant impact on a business due to the 85/15 Rule. By focusing on processes, a company creates reliable structures that many different people can use to achieve consistent results.
The concepts from this article were taken from Master Processes: Utilizing processes with organizational will and means to reduce variation. Available through The ReWild Group and Amazon, the book explores in-depth this and other concepts while providing illustrations to help business leaders incorporate the ideas into their organizations. Get your copy today, and don’t forget to download the free workbook that serves as a companion guide to the book.