Hi Everleigh,
Thank you for reaching out. It's great that you are embarking on a digital transformation project. EPC is just the right tool for you. We have worked on many such projects and the first step is usually to begin with process management and getting a hang of the current state and being able to design a "To-Be" state based on the impacts the processes have. I've tried to address each paragraph in your original question with a heading:
Organize Processes
The way you need to start organizing your processes is to ensure you try the "process decomposition" method. This method essentially breaks down processes using the top-down approach. This way hand-offs from multiple departments get identified in end-to-end process mapping. In EPC, the feature of IPLs and Subprocesses allow you to go to any depth of granularity and still be able to navigate back and forth between departments, processes and handoffs.
To create IPLs here is a link from the most recent version's documentation:
https://www.manula.com/manuals/interfacing-technologies/epc10-webapp/15.1/en/topic/12-2-2-6-ipls
Add Exceptions and Boundary Events
To add exceptions you can have boundary events on the tasks. In case of an unforeseen event or conditional scenarios, the boundary event can be classified as conditional or error, etc., You can also define the exception as interrupting or non-interrupting event, that can be connected to a different path. Gateways can also be used, but that is in case you have a clear decision point that decides on which direction the path leads to. For example Exclusive Gateways are OR gateways, like Yes/No pathways in case of an approval. Each gateway is different, and can be designed based on the adjudication of the BPMN Modeler. I would advise you to use EPC and map basic flows, and then progress to BPMN complexity as you get to know more about the processes.
Assign Manual vs Automated
To assign manual vs automated, there again two features inside EPC.
One is a more visual representation where if the map settings are adjusted to highlight manual vs automated, then the system automatically classifies shapes with either a red, yellow or green outline.
- Red is for those swimlanes with only a Role associated to it.
- Yellow for those swinmlanes with a Role, and an Asset associated as 'Support' in the RASCI.
- Green for those swimlanes associated directly to an Asset as 'Responsible'
The second is to right-click on the task and be able to assign the respective BPMN properties under task type. Here is a link for you from EPC's documentation to help you identify your options:
https://www.manula.com/manuals/interfacing-technologies/epc10-webapp/15.1/en/topic/12-2-2-5-bpmn-properties
I would need to understand what you mean by interdependencies. If you have an example please do share. Usually manual tasks feed into automated tasks or vice-versa. Identifying what is the input or the output is important.
For incorporating manual procedures, using subprocesses can declutter your processes. Since navigating through the tree hierarchy in the process module is very useful considering subprocesses are housed in a parent/child relationship on the process itself.
Here is a link in the most recent documentation explaining the same:
https://www.manula.com/manuals/interfacing-technologies/epc10-webapp/15.1/en/topic/map-options-graph-view-customization
Monitoring Performance on Processes
Performance monitoring can be done via:
- Using the Performance Module with associated KxIs (KPIs, KRIs, or KCIs)
- Process mining using Fluxicon’s Disco
- Using Six Sigma Analysis
Using the Performance Module with associated KxIs
If Subprocesses and tasks are associated to KxIs in the performance module, you can easily change the map settings to view performance color.
Here is a link to help you read through the documentation. Please navigate to performance color. Once these KxIs have data or metrics added, it shows the resulting value while analyzing your processes.
https://www.manula.com/manuals/interfacing-technologies/epc10-webapp/15.1/en/topic/map-options-graph-view-customization
Using the Performance Module with associated KxIs
For real time process monitoring - EPC is partnered with a process mining solution called Fluxicon’s Disco. Transactions from systems could be fed into Disco, and Disco could generate a process that can be transferred to EPC.
Using Six Sigma Analysis
Analyses can also be done by filling the six sigma fields. It can be done through the Diagram mode in the process module or through the Governance module.
https://www.manula.com/manuals/interfacing-technologies/epc10-webapp/15.1/en/topic/4-13-3-analysis
You can also reach out to us on more information at support@interfacing.com or to an account manager (tony.bruneau@interfacing.com). We do offer services in process discovery workshops to support you by creating your library through interviews and documentation review.
Regards,
Mercina.
