Process improvement checklist
Work through a process the way we do: find the waste, fix the handoffs, and decide what shouldn't exist at all.
This is a free checklist from WL Solutions to help you make a clearer decision before you spend time or money, no signup and nothing to buy.
Understand the process as it really is
- Follow the work end to end, not the version written in a procedure
- Note every place the work stops and waits for someone
- Mark each step where data is copied, retyped, or reformatted
- Ask who does it, how often, and how long it takes
- Find the steps people quietly work around already
Question every step
- Should this step exist, or is it a leftover workaround?
- Does this step add value, or just check on the previous one?
- Could two steps be one if the handoff were fixed?
- Is anyone entering the same information more than once?
- What breaks when the usual person is out?
Decide what actually changes
- Remove the steps that shouldn't exist before improving the rest
- Fix the process on paper before buying or building anything
- Choose the simplest tool that holds the improvement in place
- Agree on one number that tells you it worked
- Write down only the procedure people will actually use
Related capabilities
Process improvement
The best improvement is often not a new tool at all: it's removing a step, fixing a handoff, or eliminating work that shouldn't exist.
Learn moreOperational efficiency
Efficiency isn't about working faster; it's about removing the work that shouldn't be there.
Learn moreContinuous improvement
Continuous improvement works when it's a habit your team owns, not a program run at them.
Learn moreProcess improvement checklist: common questions
Is this checklist free to use?
Yes. Every resource on this site is free. There is no signup, no download wall, and nothing to buy.
Who is WL Solutions?
WL Solutions builds custom software, automations, and integrations for small businesses across Dallas-Fort Worth and East Texas. We fix the process first, then build only what earns its keep.
Can WL Solutions help apply this to my business?
Yes. Email admin@wlsolutionstx.com with the problem you are trying to solve. We scope it at no charge and tell you honestly whether it is worth doing, us or not.
Got something that bugs you?
Tell us the problem that's eating your time. Email us and we'll tell you straight if it's worth fixing, and point you to the best next step, us or not.