werkstroom

Werkstroom is a Dutch term that describes the flow of work through a system, i.e., the sequence of tasks, information, and resources needed to complete a job or process. In business contexts it is closely related to the concept of workflow and is used to analyze how work moves from input to output, who performs each step, and what data or documents are required.

A werkstroom comprises several elements: tasks or activities, their order and dependencies, the roles or actors involved, the inputs and outputs of each step, data requirements, and the time or resources consumed. It also accounts for decision points, exceptions, and possible parallel paths where work can proceed concurrently rather than sequentially.

Workflows can be categorized by domain and characteristics. Production workflows in manufacturing emphasize material movement and assembly sequences, while knowledge-work workflows (such as approval processes or software development pipelines) focus on information processing and decision making. Work can be manual, automated, or a mix, and paths may be linear, branching, or looping to accommodate rework and approvals.

In practice, werkstromen are modeled and managed using tools and methods from workflow management, business process management (BPM), and process mining. Common approaches include process mapping, diagrams, and the use of workflow systems to coordinate tasks, enforce rules, and provide visibility into performance metrics. Implementations aim to improve efficiency, standardize procedures, reduce bottlenecks, and enable automation where feasible.