The Traditional 3-Way Matching Process (‘AS IS’ process)

The purchasing department of Company X completes a paper purchase order and sends it to Supplier A via fax, with a copy going to the accounts payable department of X. Supplier A ships the goods and they arrive at company X’s receiving dock. A clerk at X’s receiving dock completes a paper receiving the document describing the goods and sends it to X’s accounts payable department. Supplier A meanwhile sends a paper invoice to X’s accounts payable department. A clerk in X’s accounts payable department would match three documents: the original purchase order, the receiving document, and the invoice. If all three documents match, an account payable clerk issues a paper check to supplier A. If they don’t match, an accounts payable clerk calls supplier A by phone to reconcile any shipment errors.

1. Develop a function decomposition model for the traditional (as-is) 3-way matching process. Start with the top line function and provide at least one level of sub-functions. Expand to deeper levels as required.

2. Identify all data entities in this process.

3. Develop a function/entity crosscheck matrix.