Enhancing the Pro.Act.A. Methodology with Artificial Intelligence. A new approach for Process Mapping

This thesis begins by discussing the importance and benefits of applying Lean philosophy in office environments, with a focus on mapping and optimizing transactional processes using the Pro.Act.A.® methodology. This is a Business Process Reengineering approach, developed by the consulting firm Considi S.p.A., which enables in depth analysis and evaluation of business processes by gathering detailed insights. Throughout this thesis, the advantages and benefits of mapping processes with this methodology will be described and analyzed. Furthermore, its concrete application will be presented in a successful Lean Office project. The analytical view offered by this thesis, through the perspective of the consultants who implement Pro.Act.A.® methodology, enables to appreciate both its added value and areas for improvement. It is from this outlook that the core topic of the thesis arises: the evolution of the methodology itself. The final objective is to make the Pro.Act.A.® methodology applicable, with greater efficiency and effectiveness, in complex and large-scale business contexts, thanks to the support of Artificial Intelligence. To this end, all the steps of Pro.Act.A.® are analyzed and classified into: • Value-added activities • Non-value-added activities but necessary • Non-value-added activities (Muda). The steps in which Artificial Intelligence can make a concrete contribution to improving the methodology are then identified and it is described how and through which tools AI has been integrated. Finally, the thesis presents an estimate of the time savings achievable through the implementation of these studied improvement opportunities.