TS 16949 Internal Audits - SIPOC (Suppliers*Inputs*Process*Outputs*Customers)

[CarbonArc]

SIPOC and TS 16949

I am 2 days into my first workshop for internal auditors for our transition from QS9000 to TS 16949. We have discussed the SIPOC process and I was wondering after todays class what section of TS 16949 does SIPOC specifically relate to?

 

[Wes Bucey]

Acronyms are killers

A pet peeve of mine is the use of acronyms without referent.
In the case of SIPOC (borrowed from Six Sigma folk), it usually helps to deconstruct the acronym to its original words to help understand its position in a process improvement project (not really an audit function in my way of thinking.)

• Suppliers of your process,
• Inputs to the process,
• Process your team is improving,
• Outputs of the process, and
• Customers

I can think of various parts of the TS16949 Standard (or most other Standards) which might benefit from a SIPOC analysis, especially when we understand everything in any process of an organization adhering to TS16949 ultimately relates to the customer, his requirements, his expectations, his inputs (design, quantities, delivery windows, critical characteristics, inspection methodologies, etc.)

Perhaps the auditing community has co-opted SIPOC in some special way they haven't told the 6S community about?

 

[Douglas E. Purdy]

Wes,

I question your attributing SIPOC to Six Sigma Folk. I went to an Excellence in Management Seminar for Executive Management by Tennesse Associates Inc. back in about 1990 and they presented SIPOC as a tool for Continous Improvement (TQM). Back then the emphasis was on identifying the Supplier - Customer relationships (internal and external) and establishing / knowing the requirements necessary to perform the "value added activity" and satisfying the customer. Part of the continuous improvement was changing/focusing the "value added activity" based on the required inputs and outputs for the process and thereby eliminating waste.

I do not understand what you mean by "co-opted SIPOC," but IMHO the SIPOC Model is a Continuous Improvement tool that feeds into the 9001 requirements for identifying the processes needed for the QMS and determining their sequence and interactions.

Doug

 

[Wes Bucey]

Wes,

I question your attributing SIPOC to Six Sigma Folk. I went to an Excellence in Management Seminar for Executive Management by Tennesse Associates Inc. back in about 1990 and they presented SIPOC as a tool for Continous Improvement (TQM). Back then the emphasis was on identifying the Supplier - Customer relationships (internal and external) and establishing / knowing the requirements necessary to perform the "value added activity" and satisfying the customer. Part of the continuous improvement was changing/focusing the "value added activity" based on the required inputs and outputs for the process and thereby eliminating waste.

I do not understand what you mean by "co-opted SIPOC," but IMHO the SIPOC Model is a Continuous Improvement tool that feeds into the 9001 requirements for identifying the processes needed for the QMS and determining their sequence and interactions.Doug

Fair enough, Doug.
In my opinion, rightly or wrongly, the most visible practicioners of SIPOC today are the 6S clan. Given your history lesson and the predilection of 6S folk to relabel Quality tools as their own, it is most likely the 6S guys (who haven't come up with anything original except their phenomenally successful marketing method) only were the previous "co-opters" of the technique.

co-opt
2 a : to take into a group (as a faction, movement, or culture) : [size=-1]ABSORB[/size], [size=-1]ASSIMILATE[/size] (the students are co·opted by a system they serve even in their struggle against it -- A. C. Danto) b : [size=-1]TAKE OVER[/size], [size=-1]APPROPRIATE[/size]

My main thrust was that SIPOC is not necessarily a technique pointed at a specific portion of TS16949, but is a technique which can be pointed at ANY and EVERY part of ANY Standard.

 

[Douglas E. Purdy]

Wes,

Understand, thanks for co-opt definition!

Doug

 

[db]

I am 2 days into my first workshop for internal auditors for our transition from QS9000 to TS 16949. We have discussed the SIPOC process and I was wondering after todays class what section of TS 16949 does SIPOC specifically relate to?

First of all, welcome to the Cove!

Now that we know what a SIPOC is (and I studied it along with Turtles as a method of finding sources of process variation), SIPOCs are one method that can be used to determine a lot of the 4.1 stuff (specifically a-c). They can also be used in 8.2.2.2, and even 7.1 b).

SIPOCs are not required, but many organizations (including mine) use them to understand processes.

Hope that helps.

 

[brahmaiah]

Re: SIPOC and TS 16949

I am 2 days into my first workshop for internal auditors for our transition from QS9000 to TS 16949. We have discussed the SIPOC process and I was wondering after todays class what section of TS 16949 does SIPOC specifically relate to?

Firstly you are too late for a transision from QS to TS.You must have spent a couple of years without any certification.
Secondly tell us what is SIPOC.Then you may expect some response.
V.J.Brahmaiah

 

[Stijloor]

Re: SIPOC and TS 16949

Firstly you are too late for a transision from QS to TS.You must have spent a couple of years without any certification.
Secondly tell us what is SIPOC.Then you may expect some response.
V.J.Brahmaiah

You're responding to an old thread. (3rd March 2004), and the OP is an "Inactive Register Visitor."

Stijloor.

 

[LUV-d-4UM]

Re: SIPOC and TS 16949

One of the additional requirements in section 8.2.2 Internal Audit is to conduct Process and Product Audit. It does not say how to do the process audit but it SHALL be done. My suggestio (If I may) is to get a sales order (product that has been shipped to OEM) and trace it backwards to how it to Customer Service. Doing this will lead to different trails of audit support. I hope this helps.

 

[dknox4]

Re: SIPOC and TS 16949

One of the additional requirements in section 8.2.2 Internal Audit is to conduct Process and Product Audit. It does not say how to do the process audit but it SHALL be done. My suggestio (If I may) is to get a sales order (product that has been shipped to OEM) and trace it backwards to how it to Customer Service. Doing this will lead to different trails of audit support. I hope this helps.

IMHO the "process" audits required by 8.2.2.2 are MANUFACTURING process audits. The process approach to auditing was stressed in my training, but I'm not aware of a SHALL for processes other than manufacturing.