Process Mapping in ISO 9001 & IATF 16949

Process Mapping and your ISO 9001: 2015 & ISO / IATF 16949 Management System

There is considerable confusion regarding the documentation of process interactions, often referred to as Customer-Oriented Processes (COPs), Manufacturing-Oriented Processes (MOPs), and Support-Oriented Processes (SOPs), as required by ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949. Many companies add extra documents to meet these requirements, such as "Turtle Documents" and "Line of Sight" flow diagrams. While these documents help meet requirements, they often fail to adequately identify process interactions or support processes. Additionally, they introduce another set of documents that need to be controlled and understood by staff. However, if done correctly, process interaction diagrams can reduce documentation and increase effectiveness.

To achieve fewer procedures, it's essential to include procedural requirements within the process interaction diagrams. This means designating the Who, What, and When for the requirements in the standard. This approach allows process interaction diagrams to serve as level 2 documents, eliminating the need for additional controlled procedures. An important benefit of this approach is that process interaction diagrams are inherently more useful as training and controlled documentation for employees. They not only explain workflow but also illustrate interactions between processes, employee tasks, and departments.

A successful implementation approach we have used is starting with the 5 phases of APQP to develop these process interactions. Many companies can improve the APQP process while implementing IATF 16949.

This method can lead to other valuable insights, such as Value Stream Mapping, a key tool in lean manufacturing.