Definition Process vs. Activity - What are the differences between a Process and an Activity?

G

Gammamaniac

#1
Hello all. :)

I have found these forums to be of great help. Especially since it is the only help I am being given. I am in the throes of converting from QS9000 to Iso 9001:2000. It is lonely here alone. :bonk:

In reading an excerpt from an article by the ISO Auditing Practices Group it says "Auditees frequently identify too many processes; some or all of them are activities, which do not fulfil the requirements of a process, in the sense that ISO 9001:2000 uses the concept." Is there anyone who can clear up the difference of process and activity? How can I tell if I'm one of those people? :confused:

We are a small machine shop. $2m - $3m annually.
 
Elsmar Forum Sponsor

Jim Wynne

Staff member
Admin
#3
This is exactly the sort of thing that gives ISO 9001 a bad name. In order to find out what the author of that statement meant, you'd have to ask him, and if he had another "expert" sitting next to him when you asked, you might get a different opinion from him.

I suppose the simple answer is that all processes are activities, but not all activities are processes, or something like that :frust: . Just take the product and work backwards. All of the "activities" that materially contribute to the realization of the product are part of a process. Contrary to popular misconceptions, there is only one process, and it begins with the solicitation of business and ends with a profit-producing product (or service) in the hands of a happy customer. The object behind the identification of interrelated processes should not be to confirm the peaceful coexistence of disparate processes. It should be to eliminate the disparity and have everyone in the company pulling on the same end of the same rope.
 
R

Rob Nix

#4
JSW05 said:
I suppose the simple answer is that all processes are activities, but not all activities are processes
I agree. Remember, Gammamaniac, not all articles and article writers are equal, and many state their opinions, which often are the opposite of many others, and peer review and validation of articles are often woefully inadequate.

According to ISO-9000:2005, under the definition of process, it interestingly says:

2.4 PROCESS) "Any activity or set of activities that uses resources to transform inputs to ouputs can be considered a process"
and
3.4.5 PROCEDURE) "a specified way to carry out an activity or a process"
A process has a fairly clear definition. An activity is virtually ANYTHING that is not in perfectly frozen statis. Breathing is an activity. Even something dead is actively decomposing.

So I would ignore that silly statement from that article and move on to more important things.

James, I slightly disagree that "only the solicitation of business and ends with a profit-producing product (or service) in the hands of a happy customer" is a process. There are many, what you might call "sub-processes" that have inputs, actions, outputs, and use resources.
 
Z

Zaitsev Alexey - 2006

#5
Iso/tc176/sc2/n544

Hello
I recomend you to read:
1. ISO 9000:2000 definition 3.4.1
2. Guidance on the concept and use of the process aproach for management systems (ISO/TC176/SC2/N544)


There you will find answers to yours questions.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
L

LuisVillegas

#6
Re: Process vs. Activity - What are the differences?

Gammamaniac,

I worked for a consulting firm and there we used to work this way:

A process is a set of activities. And an activity is a set of methods / procedures. Sometimes, methods and procedures are made up of transactions.

Hope this helps,

Best regards,

Luis R. Villegas H.
Mexico.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Y

Yarik

#7
Re: Process vs. Activity - What are the differences?

Is there anyone who can clear up the difference of process and activity?
As of today, the original post (OP?) was the first and the only post by it's author who has disappeared from Cove 3+ years ago. As far as I can tell, this question did not get a satisfactory answer...

For me, a novice, this question is still very interesting.

I've RTFMed all I could find about processes and process approach (ISO's definitions and guidelines, numerous posts at Cove, etc.). I've heard that these concepts were being used in practice yet before ISO 9xxxx has "adopted" them. But... the task of "process identification" still feels rather like an exercise in black magic for me...

Could anybody please try to shed some additional light on this topic these days?

Perhaps, it would make sense to re-formulate the question slightly:
What criteria/heuristics/rules-of-thumb do you use to decide what set of activities "deserves" to be declared to be a Process (with all known consequences dictated by "process approach" in general and by ISO 9001:2008 in particular)?
Thank you,
Yarik.
 

JoCam

Trusted Information Resource
#8
Re: Process vs. Activity - What are the differences?

This is my understanding of the difference between process and activity: -

A process is a sequence of activities, they can be single or multi activity processes. The sequence of activities begins with the inputs for the process, and results in the outputs. In summary, what you require and what you get.

If an Auditor observes that you have too many processes, they may consider that they each have similar inputs and outputs, and could therefore be combined as multi-activity processes.

Jo
 
Y

Yarik

#9
Re: Process vs. Activity - What are the differences?

This is my understanding of the difference between process and activity: -

A process is a sequence of activities, they can be single or multi activity processes. The sequence of activities begins with the inputs for the process, and results in the outputs. In summary, what you require and what you get.

If an Auditor observes that you have too many processes, they may consider that they each have similar inputs and outputs, and could therefore be combined as multi-activity processes.
Thank you Jo for taking time to reply, but I am not sure I understand your idea. Could you please elaborate on it? Give some example(s), perhaps?

I suspect that it might have something to do with grouping repetitive or similar workflow fragments (e.g. sequences of activities) into processes, but - like I said - I am not sure. Why would I get into situation when there are "too many processes" in the first place? As far as I understand, the initial picture of an organization is somewhat exactly opposite: all you see is lots of activities - too many to manage them and their interactions...

I am not sure I've explained my confusion clearly, but I still am confused. :confused:

Thank you,
Yarik.
 

somashekar

Staff member
Super Moderator
#10
Re: Process vs. Activity - What are the differences?

Hello all. :)

I have found these forums to be of great help. Especially since it is the only help I am being given. I am in the throes of converting from QS9000 to Iso 9001:2000. It is lonely here alone. :bonk:

In reading an excerpt from an article by the ISO Auditing Practices Group it says "Auditees frequently identify too many processes; some or all of them are activities, which do not fulfil the requirements of a process, in the sense that ISO 9001:2000 uses the concept." Is there anyone who can clear up the difference of process and activity? How can I tell if I'm one of those people? :confused:

We are a small machine shop. $2m - $3m annually.
Doing a stated thing is an activity ... Activities makes a process ... processes interacting makes a system ... If these are managed well to get optimum results continually, then its quality management system. This can be at the home, club, small office, departmental store, a big corporate, a state.... A Nation.
 
Thread starter Similar threads Forum Replies Date
C Process Maps vs. Activity Network Diagrams - Differences Process Maps, Process Mapping and Turtle Diagrams 7
J Definition Activity vs. Task - Definitions in Process Mapping and Projects Definitions, Acronyms, Abbreviations and Interpretations Listed Alphabetically 9
Q Activity process sub-process/procedures? ISO 9000, ISO 9001, and ISO 9004 Quality Management Systems Standards 2
R Failure analysis process or activity need to be audited? Internal Auditing 3
H Clarify the Difference between Activity and Process - What is Data Analysis IATF 16949 - Automotive Quality Systems Standard 9
D TS 16949 - Is there a difference between a process and an activity? IATF 16949 - Automotive Quality Systems Standard 5
J Need Help with FPY Data in Assembly Process Manufacturing and Related Processes 7
A When someone refuses to follow a process.... Misc. Quality Assurance and Business Systems Related Topics 21
E Software maintenance Process Software maintenance Process to IEC 6204? IEC 62304 - Medical Device Software Life Cycle Processes 3
R AS5553 Clause 3.1.7 f - "Implement a returns process....." AS9100, IAQG, NADCAP and Aerospace related Standards and Requirements 5
normhowe "The Problem with Quality Management: Process orientation, controllability and zero-defect processes as modern myths" Book, Video, Blog and Web Site Reviews and Recommendations 2
Judy Abbott General temperature used in the blasting process and laser process Manufacturing and Related Processes 2
B SOP for CNC turret punching machine for sheet metal process Manufacturing and Related Processes 0
A API Monogram audit review process Oil and Gas Industry Standards and Regulations 4
R AS9102 FAI Change in Material / Process Supplier AS9100, IAQG, NADCAP and Aerospace related Standards and Requirements 4
A Process mapping Process Maps, Process Mapping and Turtle Diagrams 1
R MDEL Process Canada Medical Device Regulations 4
optomist1 Rates Daily or Hourly Process Improvement Training Consultants and Consulting 2
S Manufacturing Process FDA FOIA Medical Device and FDA Regulations and Standards News 3
S Manufacturing Process FDA FOIA US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 4
B Toyota PPAP Process - Three Questions APQP and PPAP 3
R Changes vs CMO - How can we simplify this process? Supplier Quality Assurance and other Supplier Issues 3
A Ethics Committee Review Process for IVD Products EU Medical Device Regulations 2
V Laser Welding Process - Impact on Electrical Properties Reliability Analysis - Predictions, Testing and Standards 4
Q Process: Knowledge Section 7.1.6 of ISO 9001:2015 ISO 9000, ISO 9001, and ISO 9004 Quality Management Systems Standards 10
L Documented Information in Internal Audits Process (9.2) ISO 9000, ISO 9001, and ISO 9004 Quality Management Systems Standards 4
A Sampling plan for in-process QC (medical devices) Inspection, Prints (Drawings), Testing, Sampling and Related Topics 13
R MRB (Material Review Board) Process using MS Sharepoint or MS Teams Manufacturing and Related Processes 2
M Clinical Benefit of device that only aids in a process for managing or treating disease EU Medical Device Regulations 2
C In-process inspection - Tooling and assembly lines for automotive companies AS9100, IAQG, NADCAP and Aerospace related Standards and Requirements 6
M Efficacy of an IT process after a cyber attack ISO 9000, ISO 9001, and ISO 9004 Quality Management Systems Standards 2
N Sterilization Protocol Change in Validation Process and further impacts ISO 13485:2016 - Medical Device Quality Management Systems 1
N Riveting - special process Manufacturing and Related Processes 11
M Material incoming to the production process reflected in PFMEA FMEA and Control Plans 9
A API Spec Q1 Purchasing Process - Supplier Reevaluation based on Supplier Risks 5.6.1.4 Oil and Gas Industry Standards and Regulations 17
B Handling lower detection limits for SPC and process performance Statistical Analysis Tools, Techniques and SPC 1
D Measurables for Plastic Injection molding process Manufacturing and Related Processes 1
S Cleaning process center change ISO 13485:2016 - Medical Device Quality Management Systems 4
Z Rapid audit template for plastic parts manufacturing process Manufacturing and Related Processes 12
R Inspection and Work order process Inspection, Prints (Drawings), Testing, Sampling and Related Topics 9
T ISO 13485:2016 Clauses related to process matrix ISO 13485:2016 - Medical Device Quality Management Systems 3
A How to reduce the process SPC monitoring Capability, Accuracy and Stability - Processes, Machines, etc. 3
John Predmore Configuration Management as a process instead of a procedure AS9100, IAQG, NADCAP and Aerospace related Standards and Requirements 10
R PCBA process validation Qualification and Validation (including 21 CFR Part 11) 2
U Internal Auditor not trained but done Audit for some process Nonconformance and Corrective Action 5
B Two excellent examples of process capability analysis from Quality Magazine Capability, Accuracy and Stability - Processes, Machines, etc. 5
D ECO (Engineering Change Order) process questions ISO 13485:2016 - Medical Device Quality Management Systems 7
S Sterilization validation after changing sterilization process provider Qualification and Validation (including 21 CFR Part 11) 3
Pau Calvo Quality Management process is mandatory in ISO9001? ISO 9000, ISO 9001, and ISO 9004 Quality Management Systems Standards 10
Tagin Template or Checklist for Process Change Document Control Systems, Procedures, Forms and Templates 5

Similar threads

Top Bottom