SIPOC Diagram Template for Six Sigma Projects
A SIPOC is a one-page scope picture of a process: who supplies it, what goes in, the main steps, what comes out and who receives it. This template turns your answers into a clean document you can attach to a project charter or review with the team.
Fill in
SIPOC Diagram Template
SIPOC: Reduce first-pass defects on CNC bracket line
Process owner: Maria Lopez, Machining Manager Date: 2026-10-20 Process starts: Released work order received at cell Process ends: Finished bracket accepted into stores
Suppliers
Bar stock vendor Tool crib Production control Engineering (program release)
Inputs
Aluminum 6061 bar Cutting tools and fixtures Work order and routing Approved CNC program
Process
1. Stage material 2. Set up and prove out 3. Machine part 4. In-process inspect 5. Deburr and clean 6. Final inspect and move to stores
Outputs
Machined bracket Inspection record Scrap and rework report Work order completion transaction
Customers
Assembly cell Quality (final inspection) Customer receiving inspection
Key customer requirements (CTQs)
Hole position within 0.05 mm Surface finish Ra 1.6 um max On-time delivery to assembly
Review log
| Reviewer | Role | Comment | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
Approvals
Keep the process to 4 to 7 high-level steps. SIPOC is a scoping tool for the Define phase, not a detailed process map.
Map your SIPOC to ERP data
Optional: we can review which ERP transactions and tables back each SIPOC step and where baseline data lives.
Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.
How to fill it in
Start with the process, not the suppliers. Write the start and end points first, then list four to seven high-level steps as verbs. Work outward to the outputs and the customers who receive them, then back to inputs and suppliers. Finish with the customer requirements, the measurable things the customer cares about, because those become your CTQs and your Y metric. Enter one item per line in each box. The export lays them out as a labeled document you can paste into a charter or an A3.
- Define start and end points before listing steps
- Use verbs for steps and nouns for inputs and outputs
- Include internal customers such as the next cell, not only the end buyer
- Add a requirement for every customer you list
Why SIPOC matters in the Define phase
Most improvement projects start too wide or too narrow. A SIPOC forces the team to agree on boundaries before measurement begins. It also exposes missing stakeholders: a supplier nobody invited to the kickoff, or a downstream customer whose requirement was never written down. In an ERP-driven plant, check that each input and output has a system touchpoint, such as a routing operation, a work order transaction or an inspection plan, because that is where you will later pull baseline data.
Common mistakes
Teams often list ten or more process steps, which turns the SIPOC into a flowchart. Others write departments as suppliers when the real supplier is a specific document or transaction. A third mistake is skipping requirements. A SIPOC without customer requirements cannot tell you what a defect is. Revisit the SIPOC after the Measure phase; if the data shows the problem lives outside the boundary, change the boundary and record why.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does SIPOC stand for?
Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs, Customers. Many teams add a Requirements column for the customer's measurable needs. It is a high-level map used in the Define phase of DMAIC to set project scope and boundaries.
How many steps should a SIPOC have?
Four to seven high-level steps. If you need more, you are drawing a detailed process map. Keep the SIPOC at one page and build the detailed flowchart or value stream map later in the Measure or Analyze phase.
Who should complete the SIPOC?
The project team with the process owner and at least one person who does the work. Completing it alone at a desk misses real inputs, workarounds and hidden customers. A 30 to 60 minute team session is typical.
Is SIPOC only for Six Sigma?
No. Lean teams, ISO 9001 process owners and ERP implementation teams use it to scope any process. It works for order-to-cash, receiving inspection, engineering change, or any process with defined start and end points.
If you want SIPOC inputs and outputs traced to real ERP transactions and baseline data, Netray can help map them in your system.
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