Process

Definition

Designation of a sequence of tasks (work) with an internal (technological-organizational) connection for the fulfillment of customer orders involving several work systems. They include all associated technological and logistical operations (e.g. processing, handling, transportation, storage). Their effectiveness is strongly influenced by the form of division of labor and work organization applied in each case.

In more general terms, processes refer to the special events for transforming inputs into outputs (cf. DIN EN ISO 9001:2005). Characteristic of processes in the REFA sense are, for example, regulated and step-by-step procedures in which people and equipment work together in order, for example, to produce or process raw materials, parts and complete products or to realize services. Processes thus aim at planned changes of the work objects. They are equated here with work processes (process design). Processes and tasks are not arbitrary in the company, but are connected with each other in terms of sequence.

The sequential grouping of functionally interconnected processes is referred to as a process chain.
The description, evaluation, design or improvement of processes (or process performance) is based on, e.g.

• Process data such as process time, process structure (flow structure), process type, number and duration of process steps (processing, transporting, etc.),

• Process performance indicators such as degree of added value, quality per process step and overall, actual lead time to target lead time or the degree to which deadlines are met.

REFA methods such as the REFA process analysis as well as corresponding work data serve the process design as well as the design of work systems, especially their arrangement.