SIPOC is a method for identifying all relevant elements of a process.
SIPOC stands for the column names of the SIPOC diagram:
S – Supplier
These can be internal and/or external suppliers or service providers for the process.
I – Inputs
Materials, information, and all other input required for the process.
P – Process
Describes the process steps required to create the output from the input. Five to seven steps are recommended for modeling at the macro level.
O – Output
Describes the results of a process. Examples are products produced during the process, documents, or a service rendered.
C – Customer
Internal and external customers of a process, that is, both end customers and other processes.
The SIPOC diagram helps define a complex project that was not optimally planned.
It is usually employed in the DMAIC method phase during which a process is measured.