Project Case Studies

In 2023, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (hereinafter "MOL") formulated its "DX Vision" in  alignment with the group management plan "Blue Action 2035," along with "DX Action 1.0" to realize this vision. A core action within this initiative is business process transformation: thorough standardization, the optimization and automation of operations and organizations, and the creation of time to dedicate to business and value creation.
To achieve this, as part of organizational optimization,　MOL embarked on a project to transfer vessel operations—handled by MOL Drybulk Ltd.'s Tokyo Headquarters—to a base in Manila, Philippines. Furthermore, a key mandate of the project was to visualize business processes and tasks to establish a foundation for continuous improvement (Business Process Management, hereinafter "BPM"), enabling the Manila base to independently discover issues and cycle through optimizations.
In this project, SIGMAXYZ acted as the Project Management Office (PMO), leading everything from policy formulation and planning to consensus building among stakeholders.

BPMN-Based Process Standardization and Visualization
To standardize and visualize operations, the project adopted BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation), established as the international standard for business process modeling. A detailed "As-Is" analysis of current operations in both Tokyo and Manila was conducted to identify the gaps between the bases, strictly adhering to a "Fit to Standard" approach to align them with the optimal process. The project led the segregation of duties and rule-making while defining the "To-Be" (post-transfer) processes. This established the post-transfer processes as a common language, visualizing them clearly and unifying the understanding of all involved parties.

Utilization of a SaaS BPM Solution
To visualize the post-transfer processes and share them digitally, the project introduced "SAP Signavio," a SaaS-based business process management tool. Detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were also created and shared within Signavio. By centrally managing business processes and SOPs digitally, the sharing, revision, and updating of standard manuals became easy, establishing a foundation for continuous improvement. Furthermore, operational guidelines for Signavio were established to strengthen governance over company-wide business process management.

Creation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for  Offshore Business Transfer
As the Manila base faced challenges regarding the recruitment and retention of local operators, estimating the personnel and man-hours required for the transfer, as well as determining efficient transfer methods, became critical discussion points. Therefore, the project decided to create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) decomposed into over 500 task levels, based on the criterion that "a newly hired operator can use them to work independently." The project members visited the overseas base and created English manuals through close communication. Subsequently, trials were conducted during actual voyages to ensure quality at the practical execution level. In Manila, where visualized manuals did not previously exist, the utilization of these SOPs reduced the burden on trainers while simultaneously improving operator training quality and new hire retention rates, thereby accelerating business transfer itself.

Reducing the Workload in New Hire Training through SOP Creation
As a result of these initiatives, MOL completed the transfer design and manual preparation for general vessel operation tasks in August 2025, within a short period of approximately 10 months. Through the creation of SOPs, business processes and procedures were systematically organized and visualized, successfully reducing the workload for trainers during new hire training. Additionally, an environment was established where trainees can leverage manuals and standardized processes to learn and deepen their understanding autonomously. Furthermore, the know-how for process standardization and visualization established here, along with the practical utilization model of SAP Signavio, are being deployed horizontally across other projects within the group, accelerating the construction of a transformation foundation.

Additionally, the initiatives for business visualization and SOP formulation in this project received the "Encouragement Award" at the Business Analysis Award (Note 1) 2025, organized by the Japan Chapter of the IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis), a professional organization for business analytics. SIGMAXYZ consultants who contributed to the project were also selected as winning members.

SIGMAXYZ will continue to accompany MOL in its ongoing business process transformation, acting as a Sherpa.

Note 1) An award honoring excellent initiatives that have contributed to organizations by utilizing specialized knowledge and skills in business analysis.