Scribd
Upload
254 views3 pages

What Is A Process Flowchart - Process Flow Diagrams - ASQ

Flowchart_

Uploaded by

TrinhTruong
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
254 views3 pages

What Is A Process Flowchart - Process Flow Diagrams - ASQ

Flowchart_

Uploaded by

TrinhTruong
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Home Store QualityProgress ASQTV ContactASQ CreateAccount ShoppingCart

ASQ is a global community of people passionate about quality, SelectCountry/Region U.S./Canada

who use the tools, their ideas and expertise to make our world
SearchASQ
work better. ASQ: The Global Voice of Quality.

KnowledgeCenter Membership Certification Training Books&Standards Conferences&Events Communities AboutASQ

What is a Process Flowchart?


Overview Alsocalled:processflowchart,processflowdiagram.
ReadMore
Variations:macroflowchart,topdownflowchart,detailedflowchart(alsocalledprocessmap,micromap,
Sign In
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.

JoinASQ!(/membership/why
When to Use a Flowchart becomea
member/overview.html)
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).

MEDIAROOM CAREERCENTER ADVERTISING&SPONSORSHIP CUSTOMERSERVICE SITEMAP TERMSOFUSE PRIVACYPOLICY

AMERICANSOCIETYFORQUALITY.ALLRIGHTSRESERVED.

You might also like