Comparative Analysis of Process Improvement Techniques

This report examines four key process improvement techniques: Flowcharting, Value Stream Mapping, Cause-Effect Analysis, and Hypothesis Testing. Flowcharting is used to visualize processes for clarity, while Value Stream Mapping focuses on identifying and eliminating waste in the supply chain. Cause-Effect Analysis helps to determine the root causes of problems, and Hypothesis Testing is used to evaluate and make decisions based on data. The report provides an overview of each technique, detailing their functions and applications within a business context. The report also includes references to support the information presented, providing a comprehensive guide for students.

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Supply Chain Management

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Comparison between Four Process Improvement Tools
Tools Description When to use
Flowcharting Flowcharting involves the
documentation and detailed
breakdown of the diverse
processes associated to the
conducting of events and other
activities associated to a firm.
It also aims at figuring out of
logical relationships between
the different processes
(Vallabhaneni, 2015, p. 191).
Flowcharting is used for
generating clarity in
understanding the current
organizational functions and
also of future activities
(Vallabhaneni, 2015, p. 191).
Value-Stream Mapping Value-Stream Mapping
reflects the flow of
information and also tasks in
an end-to-end fashion for
meeting of desired objectives
(King & King, 2015, pp. 5-7).
Value-Stream Mapping
functions are selected for
reducing the level of
institutional waste and
reduction in cycle times for
process activities (King &
King, 2015, pp. 5-7).
Cause-Effect Analysis Cause and Effect Analysis
underlies the different causes
The tool is used for
identifying the different types

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that tend to influence the
course of events occurring in
an organization. It can thereby
help in understanding the
different factors that had
prompted the occurrence of
problems faced by the firm
(Whittington, 2015, p. 313).
of bottlenecks that tend to
affect the organizational
processes and thereby hinders
process performances
(Whittington, 2015, p. 313).
Testing of Hypothesis Hypothesis Testing implies
the development of two types
of hypotheses, null and
alternative. The null
hypothesis tends to indicate
the level of equality between
two different types of process
outputs while the alternative
hypothesis focuses on
showing the inequality
between the process outputs
(Jaffray, 2015, p. 1345).
Hypothesis testing is
essentially incorporated for
decision making purposes
such that evaluations are
required to be carried out in
whether to select or reject the
null hypothesis (Jaffray,
2015, p. 1345).

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References
Jaffray, D. A. (2015). World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, June 7-
12, 2015, Toronto, Canada. United Kingdom : Springer.
King, P. L., & King, J. S. (2015). Value Stream Mapping for the Process Industries: Creating a
Roadmap for Lean Transformation. United Kingdom: CRC Press.
Vallabhaneni, S. R. (2015). Wiley CIAexcel Exam Review 2015, Part 1: Internal Audit Basics,
Part 1. United Kingdom : John Wiley & Sons.
Whittington, O. R. (2015). Wiley CPAexcel Exam Review 2015 Study Guide (January): Business
Environment and Concepts. United Kingdom : John Wiley & Sons.