APQC Process Classification Framework (PCF) - Cross Industry - PDF Version 6.0.0

APQC's Process Classification FrameworkSM (PCF) is a taxonomy of business processes that allows organizations to objectively track and compare their performance internally and externally with organizations from any industry. It also forms the basis for a variety of projects related to business processes. This document is also available in an excel version.

APQC's PCF was developed in the early 1990s by APQC and a group of members from a number of industries and countries throughout the world. Originally envisioned as a tool to aid in performance improvement projects, the framework evolved into the broad taxonomy that it is today. Organizations can use the PCF's common terminology to name, organize, and map their processes. It is also helpful as a tool for explaining a business in terms of horizontal processes rather than vertical functions.

It is designed as a framework and global standard to be customized for use in any organization. Thus, the PCF does not list all processes within a specific organization, and every process listed in the framework does not exist in all organizations.

The PCF is also used as the basis for APQC's Open Standards Benchmarking, where organizations can benchmark their performance against that of other organizations. APQC tracks responses according to the processes as enumerated and defined in the PCF.

Get more details about this document and our industry-specific PCFs at www.apqc.org/pcf.

Process Definitions and Key Measures, which define the different PCF version 6.0.0 processes are available. Release notes, which explain the changes and enhancements that were made in this version, are included at the end of this document.