KaizumiKaizumi™

SIPOC

Suppliers · Inputs · Process · Outputs · Customers

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What is a SIPOC?

SIPOC is a one-page map of a process at a high level, named for its five columns: Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs, and Customers. It is the classic Define-phase tool in Six Sigma (the D in DMAIC) — you build it at the very start of a project to agree on scope before diving into detail. A good SIPOC fits on a single page and can be read in under a minute.

SIPOC keeps a project from sprawling. When someone tries to expand the scope mid-project, you point at the SIPOC boundaries you agreed on. It is a scope contract as much as a diagram.
Process & Scope
Load an Industry Example
S
Suppliers
Who provides the inputs?
I
Inputs
What goes into the process?
P
Process
5–7 high-level steps
1
O
Outputs
What the process produces
C
Customers
Who receives the outputs?

Tip: fill the Process column first (5–7 steps), then work outward to Outputs/Customers and back to Inputs/Suppliers.

Want an editable copy?

Download the free SIPOC template — five ready-to-fill columns for Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs, and Customers, with process-boundary fields and a worked example. Opens in Excel and Google Sheets.

What is a SIPOC diagram?

A SIPOC is a one-page, high-level map of a process, named for its five columns: Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs, and Customers. It is the standard Define-phase tool in Six Sigma DMAIC — built at the very start of a project to agree on scope before diving into detail. A good SIPOC fits on one page and can be read in under a minute.

How to build one

Fill the Process column first: 5–7 high-level steps, each a verb-plus-noun, with the first and last step marking your scope boundaries. Then work outward — for each output, name the customer who receives it; for each input the process needs, name the supplier who provides it. Build it with the team, because disagreements about where the process starts or who the customer is are exactly the misalignments you want to surface before the project spends money.

Where it fits

SIPOC is the D in DMAIC, usually created alongside a project charter. Its outputs and customers feed your Voice-of-the-Customer and critical-to-quality work. Once scope is agreed, you move to detailed analysis — map the flow with a Value Stream Map, quantify quality with the Sigma Level & DPMO calculator, and find root causes with a Fishbone diagram.

Frequently asked questions

What does SIPOC stand for?
SIPOC stands for Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs, and Customers — the five columns of the diagram. Suppliers provide the Inputs that the Process transforms into Outputs, which are delivered to Customers. Reading the five columns left to right gives a complete high-level picture of any process on a single page.
What is a SIPOC diagram used for?
A SIPOC is used to define and scope a process at the start of an improvement project. It is the classic Define-phase tool in Six Sigma DMAIC: the team builds it to agree on where the process starts and ends, who supplies its inputs, and who receives its outputs, before investing in detailed analysis. It doubles as a scope contract — a reference point when someone tries to expand the project mid-stream.
How do you create a SIPOC diagram?
Start with the Process column: list the process as 5–7 high-level steps and define the first and last step as your scope boundaries. Then work outward — for each Output, name the Customer who receives it; for each Input the process needs, name the Supplier who provides it. Build it with the team so disagreements about scope and customers surface early. In this tool you fill the five columns, set boundaries in the header, and export a print-ready diagram.
When do you use a SIPOC in DMAIC?
SIPOC belongs to the Define phase — the D in DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control). It is usually created alongside the project charter and Voice of the Customer work, because the Outputs and Customers you list become the starting point for defining critical-to-quality requirements. You revisit it at each tollgate to confirm the project still matches the agreed scope.
What is the difference between a SIPOC and a process map?
A SIPOC is a high-level summary — the process is just 5–7 steps with no decision points or loops — and it adds the surrounding context of suppliers, inputs, outputs, and customers. A process map (or flowchart) zooms into a single process and shows every step, decision, and handoff in detail. Teams build the SIPOC first to agree on scope, then a detailed process map or value stream map later to analyze the work.
Is this SIPOC maker free?
Yes. It runs in your browser with no sign-up, includes manufacturing, healthcare, and software examples, and exports a clean, print-ready SIPOC for a project charter or kickoff. A free editable Excel/Google Sheets template is also available.

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