Process Improvement: How to Be in Control
Reduce friction, shorten cycle time, and increase quality using a simple, repeatable approach
10 min read
The Five-Step Loop
1) Map
Document the current flow end-to-end.
2) Measure
Capture lead time, WIP, defects, rework.
3) Diagnose
Find bottlenecks and root causes.
4) Improve
Run small experiments to fix constraints.
5) Sustain
Codify wins with standards and dashboards.
What to Measure
Flow Metrics
- Lead time & cycle time
- WIP and throughput
- Queue time vs. touch time
Quality Metrics
- Defect rates and escapes
- Rework percentage
- Change failure rate
Diagnose with Evidence
Use value stream mapping and Pareto charts to focus on the constraints that matter most. Validate causes with data before fixing.
Run Improvements as Experiments
- Define hypothesis, owner, start/end date
- Limit scope to 1—2 weeks
- Track impact on one primary metric
- Adopt, adapt, or abandon based on results
How Scrumrobo Helps You Sustain
Visibility
Dashboards for velocity, cycle time, and blocker trends.
Rituals
Automated standups and retros to keep improvements alive.
Follow-Through
Action item reminders and completion tracking.
Standard Work
Templates for DoD, playbooks, and checklists.
Get in Control of Your Processes
Use Scrumrobo to measure, improve, and sustain better ways of working.