Booksįlowcharting With Excel ( Quality Management Journal) A method is presented for teaching flowcharting using Microsoft Excel. You can also search articles, case studies, and publications for flowchart resources. Use the flowchart template (Excel) to create a graphical representation of the steps in a process to better understand it and reveal opportunities for improvement. The same symbol on the other page indicates that the flow continues there.Īlternate symbols for start and end points Develop a Flowchart Link to another page or another flowchart. More than one arrow goes out of the diamond, each one showing the direction the process takes for a given answer to the question. Usually, only one arrow goes out of the box.ĭirection of flow from one step or decision to another.ĭecision based on a question.

High-Level Flowchart for an Order-Filling ProcessĬommonly Used Symbols in Detailed Flowcharts People who actually perform the process should do it.ġ. Do not assign a 'technical expert' to draw the flowchart.Involve them in the actual flowcharting sessions by interviewing them before the sessions and/or by showing them the developing flowchart between work sessions and obtaining their feedback. This includes suppliers, customers, and supervisors. Identify and involve in the flowcharting process all key people involved with the process.Don’t worry about drawing the flowchart the 'right way.' Ultimately, the right way is the way that helps those involved understand the process.Review the flowchart with others involved in the process (workers, supervisors, suppliers, customers) to see if they agree that the process is drawn accurately.When all activities are included and everyone agrees that the sequence is correct, draw arrows to show the flow of the process.Arrange the activities in proper sequence.Brainstorm the activities that take place.Discuss and decide on the boundaries of your process: Where or when does the process start? Where or when does it end? Discuss and decide on the level of detail to be included in the diagram.Write its title at the top of the work surface. Materials needed: Sticky notes or cards, a large piece of flipchart paper or newsprint, and marking pens.

When better communication is needed between people involved with the same process.

To communicate to others how a process is done.

To develop understanding of how a process is done.

It's a common process analysis tool and one of the seven basic quality tools.Įlements that may be included in a flowchart are a sequence of actions, materials or services entering or leaving the process (inputs and outputs), decisions that must be made, people who become involved, time involved at each step, and/or process measurements. It is a generic tool that can be adapted for a wide variety of purposes, and can be used to describe various processes, such as a manufacturing process, an administrative or service process, or a project plan. Variations: macro flowchart, top-down flowchart, detailed flowchart (also called process map, micro map, service map, or symbolic flowchart), deployment flowchart (also called down-across or cross-functional flowchart), several-leveled flowchartĪ flowchart is a picture of the separate steps of a process in sequential order. Also called: process flowchart, process flow diagram

Process flow diagram tool