BPR and Operations Innovation Viewpoint

BPR is an acronym for business process reengineering. BPR efforts call for radical restructuring of processes to eliminate waste and improve quality. Some commentators have declared the death of BPR. Eor many, it is associated with downsizing and layoffs. However, the intent of BPR, if not the label, will always be with us. BPR-type efforts take many forms. For example, new computer systems and reengineering are closely linked in many minds. Six Sigma is a quality initiative that is also a close cousin of BPR. Lean is another label for efforts to reduce waste in processes. 

Most BPR efforts, we find, are conhned to one company. We conclude that BPR, even if it is not labeled as such, across multiple companies in the supply chain must be increasingly common to maintain competitive position. 

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