Phase 6 is characterised by using automation to improve and streamline workflow management

A business that has completed this phase would check off the following as true...

Latest SOP updates go into use immediately. You’ll notice that your SOP updates are instantly available and the latest versions are propagated into all new jobs. Following the updated SOPs will become second nature to staff, it’s reflexive rather than a burden.

• The same processes are being followed job to job, regardless of who completes the job.
• Staff are able to build edge-case or variations of SOPs, and the system will automatically choose the right  branches and conditional elements for each special case.
• All staff have immediate access to up-to-date process guidance.

Downstream processes will gain visibility of the work that is coming their way. Increasingly, it will become clear within any job, at any time, what the current progress state is, what the next step is, and who is responsible for completing the next step.

Staff efficiency will increase by knowing exactly what needs to be done next and how to do it, rather than having to get a briefing of the information out of the previous staff members’ heads, or trying to deduce the next step by reviewing the file.

• Staff are able to take over control quickly with low pick-up delays, and see the benefits of the SOPs making their job completions easier and more efficient.