5 Business Process Modeling Tools

Blog: ProcessMaker Blog

Business process modeling is a powerful technique that is used by organizations to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and provide scalability in operations. Yet for those new to the practice, knowing which business process modeling tools to use can be daunting. In this blog post we will explore some of the more common and useful business process modeling tools.

SIPOC Diagrams

SIPOC diagrams are a tool used in the Six Sigma methodology. Six Sigma was created in 1986 by an American Engineer named Bill Smith and provides various techniques and tools for process improvement. One of these business process modeling tools is a SIPOC diagram.

SIPOC is an acronym that helps stakeholders to identify the key elements of a process at the outset. The ‘s’ in SIPOC stands for suppliers. The ‘i’ for inputs. The ‘p’ for the process that you intend on improving. The ‘o’ for outputs. And the ‘c’ is for customers that the outputs are intended for. When completing a SIPOC diagram, each letter of the acronym is typically written at the top of a column in a table format. Stakeholders then list out the key elements in each category.

Prior to completing the list, however, the existing business process should be mapped out. This provides stakeholders with a visualization of how a process works and helps to identify the elements that are the subject of the acronym.

UML Diagrams

UML, short for Unified Modeling Language, diagrams were developed by software engineers but have become one of the most popular business process modeling tools. UML was created to provide a standardized way to analyze, design, and implement software programs.

There are some 14 different types of UML diagrams, several of which are useful as business process modeling tools. These diagrams fall into two larger categories – structural and behavioral diagrams. Structural diagrams analyze the structure of a process while behavioral focus on its actors and various components.

The most used behavioral diagram are activity diagrams. They are used to illustrate the flow of different processes. Other common ones include use case diagrams and interaction overview diagrams. Commonly used structural UML diagrams include class diagrams, object diagrams, and component diagrams.

BPMN Process Maps

BPMN, or Business Process Modeling Notation, process maps are essentially an extension of UML. But unlike UML, BPMN was created solely to provide a standardized system for the purposes of business process modeling. BPMN is essentially a flow chart method that illustrates all steps of a business process. One of its benefits is its flexibility, allowing stakeholders to create diagrams that serve various purposes.

For example, BPMN diagrams can be used to provide stakeholders with a broad overview of a process. They can also be used to create highly detailed diagrams that provide practical guidance to the stakeholders responsible for performing tasks. It achieves this using a standardized system of elements and symbols. The four common elements of business process diagrams are:

Flow objects. These include events, activities, and gateways.
Connecting objects. Solid lines indicate the transfer of tasks while dashed ones are messages.
Swim lanes. These detail responsibilities for sub-tasks and the people or departments responsible for completing them.
Artifacts. These are used to add information to a diagram that are not sequence or message flows.

Value Stream Mapping

Value stream mapping is used to illustrate the steps in a business process. The primary goal of this methodology is to identify the places where a process can be improved by removing waste. There are several different types of waste that stakeholders seek to identify. These include:

Waiting. This is a production delay caused by a bottleneck in a previous process.
Motion. Unnecessary steps that result in a task taking longer and costing more.
Transport. Reducing steps involving the transport of supplies or information.
Overproduction. Producing more than demand resulting in waste or storage costs.
Over-processing. Taking too long trying to be perfect rather than transitioning to the next phase.
Defects. Requires doing over or produces an item that must be scrapped.

Gantt Charts

Gantt charts are generally used less than the other business process modeling tools we discussed above. Part of the reason is that Gantt Charts were developed over 100 years ago and more sophisticated business process modeling tools have since emerged. Gantt charts are simplistic diagrams that provide a visualization of the time associated with specific tasks. For instance, Gantt charts show the start and end times of a process and how long each took to complete.

Thus, Gantt charts are ideal for time-sensitive processes. They show stakeholders when particular tasks should begin and end, and whether processes are being completed on schedule. Gantt charts are not, however, well suited for complex business processes.

Business Process Modeling Tools from ProcessMaker

ProcessMaker offers an industry leading low-code business process management software that gives organizations access to powerful business process modeling tools. Find out more about how you can start using ProcessMaker’s powerful business process modeling tools to transform your organization.

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