Applying the axiomatic approach to business process redesign

Many approaches are available and widely used to represent and design business processes. The axiomatic approach developed by Suh has not received much attention because it is taught primarily as a product design tool. In this paper, we share our experience in applying this approach to a product obsolescence procedure in a semiconductor‐manufacturing environment. The approach provides structure for analyzing process outcomes and the means used to achieve them, a framework that is valuable in business process design. The rules that form the foundation of the axiomatic approach allow the user to evaluate the quality of a proposed design in satisfying the problem or perceived need. We found that the axiomatic approach was an excellent tool for generating process designs and evaluating them, although some effort is required initially to understand the approach. In addition, because it is essentially a process mapping technique, turning the proposed design into reality requires organizational understanding and change.