“The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement” – Helmut Schmidt

Only 4% of businesses measure and manage their processes. Process improvements are impossible with stats like that.

Why, when doing so provides an avenue for continuous improvement, advancement, and business success?

At Process Street, documenting our processes means we can continuously assess what is working and what is not.

For instance, when I first began as a Content Writer, I found navigating HTML code difficult. Luckily for me, at Process Street we document all of our business processes, creating full transparency over what works and what doesn’t. In this sense, a stronger HTML focus was needed during training. The required changes were made, and our training resulted in major process improvements.

In this article, you will find out how you can do the same. You will learn how to:

• Identify opportunities for process improvements.
• Implement the changes required.
• Measure the success of the changes made.

Think of this article as your ultimate toolkit, to make continuous process improvements in your business. We provide you with 17 free templates, to support you in improving your processes. Click on the links below to jump to the relevant template.

• Business Requirements Template
• SIPOC Template
• SWOT Analysis Template
• FMEA Template: Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Template
• SOAP Note Template
• HACCP Process checklist
• HAZOP Process checklist
• Lewin’s Change Management Model
• Bridges Transition Model Process Checklist
• ADKAR Model Change Management Process Checklist
• McKinsey 7-S Model Process Checklist
• Kotter’s Change Management Model Checklist
• Kubler Ross Change Curve Change Management Model
• Nudge Theory Change Management Model Process
• PDCA Change Management Model Process Checklist
• Satir Change Management Model Process Checklist

Or, if you just can’t wait, check out the first of our templates below to see what we’ll be giving you!

We begin this article by explaining exactly what we mean by the term process improvement, and identifying the three steps you should follow to effectively improve processes in your business. The templates provided above have been carefully designed to assist you with each step.

Click on the relevant subheader below to jump to the appropriate section, alternatively scroll down to read all we have to say.

• What do we mean by the term process improvement?
• Process improvements, step 1: Identifying business opportunities for improvement
• Using process documentation as a business opportunity
• Process improvements, step 2: Implementing changes
• Process improvements, step 3: Measuring the impact of change

Let’s get started!
Continue Reading

Taking the appropriate measures to ensure products we come into close contact with are clean & safe is now more important than ever, and there is nothing we come into closer contact with than food.

If you are in the food manufacturing, farming, processing, packaging, catering, or another food-related industry, a robust, well-documented Food Safety Management System (FSMS) is essential to maintaining a strong position in the market.

Of course, strict regulations that make sure the food we ingest is safe is nothing new. In the US, food safety regulations have been developed since the mid-1800s.

However, It was the worldwide implementation of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system in the early 90s that really kicked things off on a global scale. Since then, numerous kinds of schemes and certifications have been developed to monitor the industry more closely.

FSSC 22000 (and the resulting FSSC 22000 checklists) is one of the newest and most highly-respected of such schemes.

The FSSC 22000 system was designed to provide companies in the food industry with an ISO-based food safety management system certification that is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). Recognition by GFSI provides worldwide recognition and acceptance by food manufacturers and retailers.

“GFSI recognition demonstrates that the Scheme meets the highest standards globally leading to international food industry acceptance. Furthermore the Scheme is widely accepted by Accreditation Bodies worldwide and supported by important stakeholders like FoodDrinkEurope (FDE) and the Consumer Brands Association (CBA).” –  FSSC 22000 Scheme

Also, the fact that the scheme is ISO-based means that it integrates nicely with other management systems such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

In other words, FSSC 22000 certification is not only an internationally-recognized scheme that helps you improve market reach, food safety processes, and works great with ISO standards, but is also a powerful marketing tool.

“Statistics show that approximately 1 out of 4 certified companies are asking their suppliers to achieve certification. Chances are that if you have not been asked yet, you will be asked in the near future. Becoming certified can help you stay competitive and qualified towork with your current customers as well as to gain access to new ones.” – FSSC 22000 Quick Start Guide

In this post, Process Street is releasing a set of 6 FSSC 22000 checklist templates that will enable you to conduct meticulous internal audits and have an actionable, clear picture of everything that needs to be done in order to gain certification.

Click the links below to go to that section of the article:

• Overview of steps to gaining FSSC 22000 certification
• FSSC 22000: Process Street checklists that get you to the finish line
• FSSC 22000 Checklists: GFSI Compliance Checklist
• FSSC 22000 Checklists: HACCP Compliance Checklist
• FSSC 22000: ISO 22000 Audit Preparation Checklist
• FSSC 22000 Checklists: ISO/TS 22002-1 Internal Audit Checklist
• FSSC 22000 Checklists: ISO/TS 22002-3 Internal Audit Checklist
• FSSC 22000 Checklists: ISO/TS 22002-4 Internal Audit Checklist
• Perform superior FSSC 22000 audits with our approvals feature
• Other useful resources for establishing a first-class FSMS

If you’re just here for the checklists, here’s a taster of the free ones you’ll be getting!

Before we dive into the checklists proper, however, let’s take a quick look at a basic overview of what the steps are to gaining certification, and clarify where the checklists we have created fit into the process.
Continue Reading

As I stood, staring at my big toe which had somehow poked its way through a layer of polyester, it occurred to me that:

1. These 2-month-old running shoes definitely needed to be disposed of.
2. I will not be buying from this poor quality brand again.

In this scenario, I had fallen victim to poor quality control measures.

Purchasing a pair of running shoes not robust enough to meet my needs meant I, as a consumer, was not satisfied and did not repeat my custom with the given brand.

This reaction is to be expected.

A study by Psomas et al, detailed on Emerald Insights, concluded that effective quality control measures, in the form of Quality Management Systems (QMS systems), directly improve employee benefits, business performance, and customer satisfaction.

“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives” – William A Foster, Forbes Quotes

In this Process Street article, we take a look at what quality control is, and how you can implement effective quality control processes in your business today.

You will be presented with 19 free templates, ready and waiting to be used right away. These templates will help you build and audit your QMS systems, to meet the needs of key stakeholders in your business.

1. ISO 9001:2015 Internal Audit Checklist for Quality Management Systems
2. Financial Audit Checklist
3. Environmental Accounting Internal Audit
4. Environmental Management Self Audit Checklist
5. Management Systems Audit Checklist
6. ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 Integrated Management System (IMS) Checklist
7. PPC Audit Checklist
8. Google Analytics Audit
9. Technical SEO Audit
10. UX Audit
11. ISO 27001 Information Security Management System (ISO27K ISMS) Audit Checklist
12. SQL Server Audit Checklist
13. Firewall Audit Checklist
14. Network Security Audit Checklist
15. ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Audit Checklist
16. Diversity Management Monthly Audit
17. Hotel Sustainability Audit
18. Laboratory Safety Procedure Audit
19. Retail Store Audit Checklist

Sound good?

Click on the relevant subheader below to jump to that section, alternatively, scroll down to read all I have to say.

• What is quality control?
• Create your quality control systems in Process Street
• Audits: What are they and why they are needed for quality control
• Audit processes: Incorporating audit processes into a QMS

Let’s begin!
Continue Reading

People are the most important asset in a company; processes need people to execute them, and the outcome of these processes is often a function of how well the instructions have been put together.

If the outcome is less than ideal, then don’t just blame your employees: check your processes.

Standard operating procedures (SOPs) are there for your employees to follow so that the job gets done properly. SOP software is all about figuring out how to innovate and improve efficiency in your internal processes.

This Process Street article will help you understand the benefits of SOP management software and give you some actionable SOP templates to get started. We’ll be looking at:

• What is SOP management software?
• Should you implement standard operating procedures at your company?
• 5 features to look for when choosing a SOP management software
• Benefits of a SOP management software
• Using Process Street to manage your SOPs
• More SOP resources

Let’s start with a simple introduction to what SOP management software actually means.
Continue Reading

If you’re on the front lines fighting COVID-19 and want to use these processes to help your facility, please contact us and we will set you up with a free account*

COVID-19 hit hard, and many communities, organizations, and small businesses are struggling to shoulder the increased pressure put on by circumstances of economic downturn and uncertainty.

This article is an attempt to offer some aid in the form of 8 free coronavirus workplace templates, to help you improve efficiency in your organization by streamlining and automating manual tasks in recurring COVID-19 processes.

Some of these templates are straightforward, linear processes, while others are more complicated processes with various different outcomes. They will all be embedded below with relevant descriptions and links to sources.

The Process Street checklists in this post were all informed by procedures established by the following leading health authorities:

• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Government of Alberta’s Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC)
• New York Department of Health (DoH)

Each process template will be embedded below with a description. The article will be structured as follows:

• Coronavirus template quick-links
• How to use these coronavirus workplace templates
• 8 COVID-19 procedure templates to organizations and businesses fight coronavirus in the workplace
• How to use Process Street for crisis management in a downturn

Continue Reading

Lawyers are busy people.

They’re at the frontline of all legal matters, providing advice on tricky issues, resolving disputes, and representing clients in court if needs be. All. Year. Round.

Ergo: There’s a lot on any given lawyer’s plate.

With the huge amount of recurring tasks that need to be completed, on top of looming deadlines and constant work-related pressures, it’s easy for quality to slip. Especially when it comes to one of the most important processes of all – the intake process.

It’s why 61% of law firms forget to ask for the client’s name during their initial conversation, why 35% of calls from clients go unanswered, and why it takes 3 or more days for 42% of law firms to respond to prospective clients.

For a law firm to keep its prestigious reputation – and to continue working with great clients – the intake process needs to effective, efficient, and done properly.

That’s why this blog post exists.

In this post, I’ll discuss what an intake process is, its benefits, why it’s important, and how Process Street can help law firms streamline the entire process.

Read through the sections below to get clued up:

• What is the intake process definition?
• The benefits of a solid client intake process
• How to use Process Street’s intake process template (for law firms)
• Use Process Street for all your law-related process needs!

Let’s begin; the court is in session! ⚖️
Continue Reading

If you’re chronically ill, pain medication will help but not solve the issue. Just like if you’re experiencing abnormally high customer churn, the last thing you want is to spend all your time firefighting.

You need to find the cause.

That’s exactly why root cause analysis is a vital process. It helps you to understand the causal focus and underlying issues behind your biggest business problems.

For example, Eastman Chemical‘s customer complaint numbers were cut in half after conducting a logic tree root cause analysis to pinpoint their deeper issues. Clipper Windpower saved $1 million in lost revenue by identifying the underlying causes of their turbine malfunction.

In this Process Street article, we have a root cause analysis template for you to follow. Our aim is to give you a comprehensive overview of the root cause analysis process, from a simple introduction and break down of the key principles to when and why you’d want to perform a root cause analysis.

We’ll be covering:

• Root cause analysis template
• What is root cause analysis (RCA)?
• Why conduct a root cause analysis?
• Key principles of root cause analysis
• How to conduct a root cause analysis that actually works
• Root cause analysis tips
• Using Process Street to conduct a root cause analysis

Let’s take a quick look at the root cause analysis template.
Continue Reading

Unequipped. Unprepared. Uncertain.

34% of people believe their organization isn’t properly prepared for employees to be working from home.

Speaking of which, has your organization recently – and rather hastily – transitioned from office working to working from home?

If the answer is “Yes“, no sweat. Process Street has you covered.

This post will guide you through the basics of working from home (WFH), the positives of it, the potential problems you could run into, on top of offering you our (free!) checklist templates that’ll ensure a safe and smooth WFH transition.

Read through the following sections to get completely clued up:

• What does WFH mean?
• The advantages of working from home
• WFH transition struggles
• Process Street’s free WFH transition templates
• Use Process Street for all recurring processes and tasks!

Or, if all you want is the checklists, get them here:

• Work From Home Office Space Checklist
• Remote Daily Work Schedule Template
• Virtual Meeting Checklist
• Onboarding Remote Employees Checklist
• Work From Home Policy Checklist
• Achieving Work-Life Balance Checklist
• Work Anxiety Resolution Checklist
• Critical Incident Stress Management Checklist

Let’s dive into all things WFH, ASAP. ‍
Continue Reading

How many proposals do you submit, on average, per month?

Five? Ten? Fifteen? …More?

And out of those, how many do you win?

Zero?… One?… Maybe two if you’re lucky?

“The U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER grant program accepted less than 10% of eligible grant applications” – CDN2, Four Types of Grant Funding

Hearing “No” after “No” after “No” is devastating, disheartening and downright depressing.

Where are you going wrong? How can you improve? What in God’s name do you need to do to get a YES?!

If you’re looking for ways to create a blinding proposal that will flatten your competitors, dazzle your prospective buyers, and result in a long-awaited YES from a panel of reviewers, you’ve come to the right place.

All you need is ten minutes and the following 12 free proposal templates:

If you don’t have ten minutes, feel free to dive straight into these winning proposal templates:

1. Bid Proposal Template Checklist
2. Business Proposal Template Checklist
3. Construction Proposal Template Checklist
4. Consulting Proposal Template Checklist
5. Contractor Proposal Template Checklist
6. Event Proposal Template Checklist
7. How to Write a Grant Checklist
8. Marketing Proposal Template Checklist
9. Project Proposal Template Checklist
10. Research Proposal Example Checklist
11. Sponsorship Proposal Template Checklist
12. Website Proposal Template Checklist

Or, if you’re curious, take a sneaky peek at the website proposal template to give you a taste of what’s to come!

These are the topics we will cover in this post:

• What you need to achieve with a proposal
• 8 ways to create the perfect proposal
• The 12 different types of proposal
• The real secret behind a successful proposal
• How to use Process Street to write your winning proposals

Ok, let’s go!

Continue Reading

What’s the difference between a winning grant proposal and a losing one?

Grant writing.

Grant funding today is more difficult to obtain than ever before. A recent National Institute of Health (NIH) report showed that out of 50,000 grant applications, only 10,000 were given funding. That’s only 19%, which has fallen from 33% in the last 15 years.

Why?

A lack of Government funding, fierce competition, and poor grant writing skills.

We can’t do anything about the Government funds. We can do little about fierce competition. We can, however, do a lot about poor grant writing skills.

From completing complex grant applications to writing tip-top proposals, we’ve created the following eight templates to hone your grant writing skills.

If you’re in a hurry, go ahead! Click on the links below to jump straight in!

1. Applying for a Government Grant Checklist
2. Budget Proposal Template
3. Grant Application Process
4. How to Search for Grants Process
5. How to Write a Grant Proposal Checklist
6. How to Write a Research Proposal Checklist
7. Proposal Template Checklist Process
8. Simple Proposal Format Checklist

Curious about what these templates looks like? Check out the Proposal Template embedded below.

Scroll down for more information on each template of our grant writing template pack.

In addition to introducing our grant writing templates, I’ll be taking you behind the grant writing scenes, covering the following topics:

• What is a grant? (Clue: it’s not free money)
• Uncover the truth about what grant writing really is
• How to write grant proposals that win every time
• How to ace your grant proposals with Process Street

Ready? Let’s start with the basics…

Continue Reading