processvetting

Processvetting, or process vetting, refers to the systematic evaluation of processes, procedures, and workflows to determine whether they meet stated objectives, requirements, and constraints. It is used across industries to assess efficiency, reliability, compliance, safety, and risk exposure of operations, software development, service delivery, and manufacturing. The practice involves documenting the process, its inputs and outputs, control points, and performance criteria; collecting data on effectiveness and compliance; and judging whether the process is fit for purpose or requires modification.

Typical activities include process mapping, data collection and analysis, control testing, risk assessment, process mining, simulations or pilot runs, independent reviews, and verification of regulatory or contractual requirements. Criteria may cover performance metrics, reliability, security and privacy controls, safety margins, and cost of ownership. Outputs commonly include an evaluation report, a risk register, recommended mitigations, and updated standard operating procedures or process designs. In practice, processvetting supports decisions about deployment, procurement, major change in operations, or vendor onboarding, and it is often integrated into governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) programs.

Challenges include incomplete data, changing processes, organizational resistance, scope creep, and balancing thorough vetting with timeliness. Related concepts include process audits, process validation, due diligence, and the process approach emphasized in standards such as ISO 9001 and risk management frameworks.