A flowchart lets you visualize a process from beginning to end using steps connected to each other. There are unique symbols to represent the beginning and end of the process as well as the decisions and actions along the way.

A Basic Flowchart

Flowchart

By visualizing the process, a flowchart can quickly help identify bottlenecks or inefficiencies where a process can be streamlined or improved.

Example: Two Flowcharts for a Common Process

Suppose your research revealed that you always want fries and a drink with your burger. You decide to streamline your process by ordering the combo meal, which automatically includes fries and a drink. The two flowcharts show at a glance that you omit two decisions and two order steps by using the streamlined order process.

Flowchart of an Improved Process

Why Use a Flowchart?

  • Document a process for regulatory and quality management requirement such as Sarbanes-Oxley(SOX) or ISO9000
  • Communicate among departments
  • Train new employees
  • To ensure that a process is always done the same way
  • Quality control
  • Troubleshooting
  • Identify bottlenecks
  • Visualize deficiences

Types of Flowcharts

Swimlane Flowchart

A swimlane flowchart is a regular flowchart where the shapes of the chart are organized into separate lanes to visualize stages, employees, departments, or any other set of separated categories.

Swimlane Flowchart Example - Financial Accounting Process

Data Flow Diagram (DFD)

Data flow diagrams visualize how data flows through an information system in terms of inputs and outputs. They're also used to illustrate data processsing.

You start by modeling the interaction between the information system and external agents such as a database and customers. Learn how to make a data flow diagram here.

Data Flow Diagram Example - Online Order System

Influence Diagram (ID)

Influence diagrams are a graphical and mathematical representation of a decision.

It's considered an alternative to a decision tree or a game tree diagram.

There are four symbols that represent the building blocks of an influence diagram: a decision such as whether or not to buy a product, a chance variable such as longevity or quality of the product, a general variable like price, and an objective such as satisfaction with your purchase.

Influence diagrams can show the value of information. One piece of information may be more influential than another in making a decision. Influence is represented using arrows in the diagram. In very simple terms, price may be a bigger influencer than quality on whether or not to buy an item.

Influence Diagram Example - Product Decision

Workflow Diagram

A workflow diagram is used to illustrate the flow of data and documents through an organization for a specific product or service.

Workflow diagram is both a training tool and an analytical tool. It let's you:

  • Understand employee responsibilities
  • Identify potential bottlenecks
  • Analyze critical stages
  • Improve communication among employees and stakeholders
Workflow Diagram Example - E-Commerce

Process Flow Diagram (PFD)

A process flow diagram (PFD), also known as a flowsheet, is a flowchart use to illustrate high-level processes in chemical and process engineering. A PFD will focus on major plant processes and not show minor details.

  • Process piping
  • Major equipment
  • Control valves and other major valves
  • Connections with other systems
  • Major bypass and recirculation streams
  • Operational data
  • Process stream names

A Process Flow Diagram that visualizes multiple processes is often called a block flow diagram or schematic flow diagram.

Process Flow Diagram Example - Petroleum Refining Process

Event-driven Process Chain (EPC) Diagram

EPC diagrams are flowcharts used in business process modelling and SAP R\3 that let you visualize alternative and parallel processes using logical operators such as "and" and "or".

EPC diagrams are high-level visual models used for resource planning.

Common building blocks:

  • Functions
  • Events
  • Connectors
EPC Diagram Example - Loan Application Process

Specification and Description Language (SDL) Diagram

SDL diagrams are used to show detailed structure, communication, behavior, data, and inheritance for real-time systems. They visualize the processes of state machines in the telecommunications, aviation, automotive and medical industries.

SDL diagrams are created using the following building blocks:

  • System definition
  • Block agent
  • Process
SDL Diagram Example - Access Control Panel

Value Stream Mapping

Value stream mapping is a lean manufacturing tool commonly used in manufacturing, healthcare, software & product development, logistics, supply chain and service industries.

A value stream map is used to analyze the flow of materials and information required to bring a product or service to a consumer.

Value Stream Mapping Example - Hospital Production Control

How to Make a Flowchart?

Flowcharts can sometimes look intimidating and complex, but they're actually fairly easy to create. You simply begin your documentation with a starting symbol that signifies the first step of your process, then systematically add actions and decisions until you reach the end of your process. SmartDraw has a detailed guide on how to make a flowchart using SmartDraw's flowcharting software here.

8 Quick Tips for Making Flowcharts

  1. Label each flowchart with a title identifying the process that it illustrates. (For example: "Order Entry Process").
  2. Clearly indicate the starting and ending points of the process, using the standard terminator symbols.
  3. Keep the direction of flow consistent. Avoid confusion by keeping your flow lines moving from top to bottom and left to right. Don't reverse the direction in the chart unless the flow reverses itself in reality.
  4. Break the steps down to a consistent level of detail. Don't include trivial sub-steps of one task while treating another equivalent task as a whole. If one step or task needs to be analyzed in detail, make a separate chart illustrating that sub-process. (In SmartDraw, you can hyperlink the shape representing a sub-process to the chart that illustrates it, allowing users to "drill down" for more detail.)
  5. Avoid crossing flow lines. In a well-designed chart, flow lines will not cross each other. By rearranging a chart you can usually get rid of crossed lines. If two lines must cross, use a "bridge" (also known as a "line hop") to show that the lines do not intersect.
  6. Make sure there are at least two outcomes from every decision diamond.
  7. Try to make all the shapes in the flowchart about the same size to make your chart easier to read.
  8. Try to be as succint as possible. For example, use active verbs and short phrases instead of paragraphs of text.

More Flowchart Examples

Now that you've learned the basics of flowcharting, why not check out some real-world examples of flowcharts. We got a nice collection fo flowchart examples here.

Flowchart Example: Financial Accounting Process

An example swimlane flowchart which depicts a standard financial accounting process.

Flowchart Example: Hiring Process Flowchart

An example flowchart which depicts a human resources hiring process.

Flowchart Example: Medical Services Flowchart

This flowchart example depicts a medical services process for routing patients.
Flowchart Example - Financial Accounting Process
Flowchart Example - Hiring Process Flowchart
Flowchart Example - Medical Services Flowchart

Ready to Make Your Own Flowchart?

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