How to Conduct a Process Audit in Your Organization

A process audit doesn’t have to be complex—or disruptive. At its core, it’s about understanding how work actually gets done and identifying where it’s slowing you down.

Start by selecting one high-impact process, such as order fulfillment, customer onboarding, or invoicing. Focus on areas tied to delays, errors, or rising costs.

Next, map the process as it exists today—not how it’s supposed to work. Interview the people doing the work, observe handoffs, and document each step.

Once mapped, analyze the process for breakdowns. Look for bottlenecks, duplicate work, unclear ownership, excessive approvals, or manual steps that could be automated. Then, connect these issues to performance metrics like cycle time, error rates, or customer complaints.

Finally, prioritize improvements based on impact and effort. A strong process audit ends with a short, actionable improvement plan—not a binder no one opens. Done well, process audits create clarity, efficiency, and momentum across your organization.