DETAIL PROCESS/ SWIMLANE
Description
A detailed process in swimlanes provides insight into the course of the process and the responsibilities of the various people involved in the process. In the swimlane, you depict the process as it is now. Not as you would like it to be or as you think it is, but as it is actually going.
When
In the phases Forming an Image, Analysing a Problem and Securing Results and in day-to-day management. A swimlane is also a good basis for a Value Stream Map.
Goals
Swimlanes create insight:
- the number rolls in the process,
- the remedial actions in the process,
- the decision and control moments,
- number process steps,
- number departments or employees involved in the (end-to-end) process.
Steps
- Create a SIPOC and End-to-End process, use these as the basis for the swimlane.
- On a brownpaper, write down the collaborators or roles in this process among themselves.
- Name the different process steps from supplier to customer.
- Also name decision and control moments in the process.
- Finally, check that the swimlane matches the SIPOC and End-to-End.
Tips:
- Make sure you map the processes with the process stakeholders: you are the facilitator and they are the content experts.
- Use a 'parking flap' to write down issues. This is because there is a good chance that all sorts of ideas for improvement will be shouted out while the issue here is the current process.
Examples

Figure: Example preparing court file (OM)
