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What is a Process Flowchart?
Overview Alsocalled:processflowchart,processflowdiagram.
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Variations:macroflowchart,topdownflowchart,detailedflowchart(alsocalledprocessmap,micromap,
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FMEA servicemap,orsymbolicflowchart),deploymentflowchart(alsocalleddownacrossorcrossfunctional
MistakeProofing flowchart),severalleveledflowchart. UserName:
SpaghettiDiagram Aflowchartisapictureoftheseparatestepsofaprocessinsequentialorder.
Elementsthatmaybeincludedare:sequenceofactions,materialsorservicesenteringorleavingthe Password:
process(inputsandoutputs),decisionsthatmustbemade,peoplewhobecomeinvolved,timeinvolvedat
eachstepand/orprocessmeasurements.
Theprocessdescribedcanbeanything:amanufacturingprocess,anadministrativeorserviceprocess,a SignIn
projectplan.Thisisagenerictoolthatcanbeadaptedforawidevarietyofpurposes.
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Todevelopunderstandingofhowaprocessisdone.
Tostudyaprocessforimprovement.
Tocommunicatetoothershowaprocessisdone.
Whenbettercommunicationisneededbetweenpeopleinvolvedwiththesameprocess.
Todocumentaprocess. Featuredadvertisers
Whenplanningaproject.
Flowchart Basic Procedure
Materialsneeded:stickynotesorcards,alargepieceofflipchartpaperornewsprint,markingpens.
1.Definetheprocesstobediagrammed.Writeitstitleatthetopoftheworksurface.
2.Discussanddecideontheboundariesofyourprocess:Whereorwhendoestheprocessstart?
Whereorwhendoesitend?Discussanddecideonthelevelofdetailtobeincludedinthe
diagram.
3.Brainstormtheactivitiesthattakeplace.Writeeachonacardorstickynote.Sequenceisnot
importantatthispoint,althoughthinkinginsequencemayhelppeoplerememberallthesteps.
4.Arrangetheactivitiesinpropersequence.
5.Whenallactivitiesareincludedandeveryoneagreesthatthesequenceiscorrect,drawarrowsto
showtheflowoftheprocess.
6.Reviewtheflowchartwithothersinvolvedintheprocess(workers,supervisors,suppliers,
customers)toseeiftheyagreethattheprocessisdrawnaccurately.
Flowchart Considerations
Dontworrytoomuchaboutdrawingtheflowcharttherightway.Therightwayisthewaythat
helpsthoseinvolvedunderstandtheprocess.
Identifyandinvolveintheflowchartingprocessallkeypeopleinvolvedwiththeprocess.This
includesthosewhodotheworkintheprocess:suppliers,customersandsupervisors.Involve
themintheactualflowchartingsessionsbyinterviewingthembeforethesessionsand/orby
showingthemthedevelopingflowchartbetweenworksessionsandobtainingtheirfeedback.
Donotassignatechnicalexperttodrawtheflowchart.Peoplewhoactuallyperformtheprocess
shoulddoit.
Computersoftwareisavailablefordrawingflowcharts.Softwareisusefulfordrawinganeatfinal
diagram,butthemethodgivenhereworksbetterforthemessyinitialstagesofcreatingthe
flowchart.
ExcerptedfromNancyR.TaguesTheQualityToolbox,SecondEdition,ASQQualityPress,2004,pages
255257.
Flowchart Examples
HighLevelFlowchartforanOrderFillingProcess
DetailedFlowchart
Commonly Used Symbols in Detailed Flowcharts
Onestepintheprocessthestepiswritteninsidethebox.Usually,onlyonearrowgoesoutofthebox.
Directionofflowfromonestepordecisiontoanother.
Decisionbasedonaquestion.Thequestioniswritteninthediamond.Morethanonearrow
goesoutofthediamond,eachoneshowingthedirectiontheprocesstakesforagivenanswertothe
question.(Oftentheanswersareyesandno.)
Delayorwait
Linktoanotherpageoranotherflowchart.Thesamesymbolontheotherpageindicatesthatthe
flowcontinuesthere.
Inputoroutput
Document
Alternatesymbolsforstartandendpoints
Develop a Process Flowchart
Createagraphicalrepresentationofthestepsinaprocesstobetterunderstanditandrevealopportunities
forimprovement.StartusingtheFlowchartTemplate(Excel,57KB).
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