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Process excellence control atlas

Process Excellence & Six Sigma: from risk to evidence

A control map for turning privacy and security workflows into measurable, repeatable operations using Lean and DMAIC thinking.

Governance becomes fragile when teams measure activity instead of cycle time, rework, defects, and outcomes.

DMAICLean process designRACIContinuous improvement

OPS-01 · Control 1

Process definition

Critical workflows have clear entry criteria, owners, and exits.

Accountable owner
Process owner
Review cadence
Review at least annually and after a material change.

Maturity path

  • Foundational: Establish ownership, a documented workflow, and initial evidence for process definition.
  • Developing: Run process definition consistently with review cadence, metrics, and exception handling.
  • Advanced: Continuously improve process definition through automation, testing, and executive reporting.

Test method: Review current evidence with the accountable owner and record exceptions.

Evidence to look for

  • Process map
  • SIPOC or workflow definition
  • RACI

OPS-02 · Control 2

Quality measurement

Leaders can see where work stalls or returns for rework.

Accountable owner
Operations or process excellence lead
Review cadence
Review at least annually and after a material change.

Maturity path

  • Foundational: Establish ownership, a documented workflow, and initial evidence for quality measurement.
  • Developing: Run quality measurement consistently with review cadence, metrics, and exception handling.
  • Advanced: Continuously improve quality measurement through automation, testing, and executive reporting.

Test method: Review current evidence with the accountable owner and record exceptions.

Evidence to look for

  • Cycle-time baseline
  • First-pass yield
  • Defect taxonomy

OPS-03 · Control 3

Standard work

Teams deliver consistent control quality across business units.

Accountable owner
Process owner with team lead
Review cadence
Review at least annually and after a material change.

Maturity path

  • Foundational: Establish ownership, a documented workflow, and initial evidence for standard work.
  • Developing: Run standard work consistently with review cadence, metrics, and exception handling.
  • Advanced: Continuously improve standard work through automation, testing, and executive reporting.

Test method: Review current evidence with the accountable owner and record exceptions.

Evidence to look for

  • SOPs
  • Templates
  • Training record

OPS-04 · Control 4

Control loop

Improvements persist through review cadence and ownership.

Accountable owner
Program owner
Review cadence
Review at least annually and after a material change.

Maturity path

  • Foundational: Establish ownership, a documented workflow, and initial evidence for control loop.
  • Developing: Run control loop consistently with review cadence, metrics, and exception handling.
  • Advanced: Continuously improve control loop through automation, testing, and executive reporting.

Test method: Review current evidence with the accountable owner and record exceptions.

Evidence to look for

  • KPI dashboard
  • Improvement backlog
  • Monthly review minutes

OPS-05 · Control 5

Defect and rework

Teams can identify recurring errors, avoidable handoffs, and work that returns for correction.

Accountable owner
Process excellence lead
Review cadence
Review at least annually and after a material change.

Maturity path

  • Foundational: Establish ownership, a documented workflow, and initial evidence for defect and rework.
  • Developing: Run defect and rework consistently with review cadence, metrics, and exception handling.
  • Advanced: Continuously improve defect and rework through automation, testing, and executive reporting.

Test method: Review current evidence with the accountable owner and record exceptions.

Evidence to look for

  • Defect taxonomy
  • Rework log
  • Root-cause analysis

OPS-06 · Control 6

Review cadence

Process health is reviewed at a predictable rhythm with decisions and actions recorded.

Accountable owner
Process owner with governance lead
Review cadence
Review at least annually and after a material change.

Maturity path

  • Foundational: Establish ownership, a documented workflow, and initial evidence for review cadence.
  • Developing: Run review cadence consistently with review cadence, metrics, and exception handling.
  • Advanced: Continuously improve review cadence through automation, testing, and executive reporting.

Test method: Review current evidence with the accountable owner and record exceptions.

Evidence to look for

  • Operating review calendar
  • KPI review record
  • Action and escalation log

Related controls

Questions to ask internally

  • Where does work wait between teams?
  • Which steps create the most rework?
  • Are defects classified consistently?
  • Do leaders review operating KPIs?
  • What actions are carried from one review to the next?
  • Who owns the improvement backlog?