Can document management systems manage processes? Aren't processes just another type of document?

The answer is no on both counts. They can store them, but they can't manage them.

Problem 1:

Processes still need to be captured in static diagramming and word processing tools when using a document management system.
Whilst this allows for processes to be captured, it fails in the face of ongoing change .

Processes can be made up of many independent ‘objects' like roles, standard forms, guides, and process links. If we change one of these objects, we need to (somehow) find out which processes use it, so that objects and links can be manually reinstated.

Solution:

Use a process management tool that is object oriented – so each ‘object' can be managed independently.
Process edits such as roles changes, changes to process links, forms and guides dynamically update every affected process and trigger change notifications to stakeholders. The library manages the complex relationships, including exactly which processes use each document.

Problem 2:

Process owners can't be expected to edit (Visio) processes to keep them up to date. This fact alone means that process owners can avoid the key responsibility of keeping processes up to date – and so we maintain the cycle of expensive process updates (effectively from scratch) every few years.

Solution

Use a process management tool to eliminate time consuming manual creation and updating of process diagrams.
When Process Owners edit process text, process diagrams are dynamically created and updated. The old Visio / Word standard can require triplicate edits in some cases just to be synchronised (diagram, Word, diagram embedded in Word).

Problem 3

There's no regard to individual roles when procedures manuals are maintained in a document management system. This makes them far less likely to be referred to.       

Solution

Use a process management tool that offers role based views. “I only want to see my processes”
Staff can clearly see what they processes they participate in and what they are responsible for. They can also see what training material is applicable to them, systems guides they use etc. It's effectively like having a personal tool kit, not a menu of hundreds of processes to browse through.