Process / Operation Symbols

Symbol Name Description

Process Show a Process or action step.

This is the most common symbol
in both process flowcharts and
business process maps.

Alternate Process As the shape name suggests, this

flowchart symbol is used when
the process flow step is an
alternate to the normal process
step. Flow lines into an alternate
process flow step are typically
dashed.

Predefined Process A Predefined Process symbol is a

(Subroutine) marker for another process step
or series of process flow steps
that are formally defined
elsewhere. This shape commonly
depicts sub-processes (or
subroutines in programming
flowcharts). If the sub-process is
considered "known" but not
actually defined in a process
procedure, work instruction, or
some other process flowchart or
documentation, then it is best not
to use this symbol since it
implies a formally defined
process
 Delay The Delay flowchart symbol
depicts any waiting period that is
part of a process. Delay shapes
are common in process mapping.

Preparation As the names states, any process

step that is a Preparation process
flow step, such as a set-up
operation.

Manual Operation Manual Operations flowchart

shapes show which process steps
are not automated. In data
processing flowcharts, this data
flow shape indicates a looping
operation along with a loop limit
symbol (which is not supported
by Microsoft Office, but a
Manual Operation symbol
rotated 180° will do the trick.)

Branching and Control of Flow Symbols

Symbol Name Description

Flow Line
(Arrow, Connector) Flow line
connectors show the direction
that the process flows.
Terminator
(Terminal Point, Oval)
Terminators show the start and
stop points in a process. When
used as a Start symbol,
terminators depict a trigger
action that sets the process flow
into motion.
 Decision Indicates a question or branch in
the process flow. Typically, a
Decision flowchart shape is
used when there are 2 options
(Yes/No, No/No-Go, etc.)
Connector Flowchart: In flowcharts, this
(Inspection) symbol is typically small and is
used as a Connector to show a
jump from one point in the
process flow to another.
Connectors are usually labeled
with capital letters (A, B, AA) to
show matching jump points.
They are handy for avoiding
flow lines that cross other shapes
and flow lines. They are also
handy for jumping to and from a
sub-processes defined in a
separate area than the main
flowchart.
Process Mapping: In process
maps, this symbol is full sized
and shows an Inspection point in
the process flow.

[Just to confuse things further,

some people will use a circle to
indicate an operation and a
square to indicate an inspection.
That's why it's important to
include a symbol key in the
flowchart.]
Off-Page Connector Off-Page Connector shows
continuation of a process
flowchart onto another page.
When using them in conjunction
with Connectors, it's best to
differentiate the labels, e.g. use
numbers for Off-Page
Connectors and capital letters for
Connectors. In actual practice,
most flowcharts just use the
Connect shape for both on-page
and off-page references.
 Merge Flowchart: Shows the merging
(Storage) of multiple processes or
information into one.
Process Mapping: commonly
indicates storage of raw
materials.
Extract Flowchart: Shows when a
(Measurement) process splits into parallel paths.
Also commonly indicates a
Measurement, with a capital 'M'
inside the symbol.
Process Mapping: commonly
indicates storage of finished
goods.
Or The logical Or symbol shows
when a process diverges -
usually for more than 2 branches.
When using this symbol, it is
important to label the out-going
flow lines to indicate the criteria
to follow each branch.
Summing Junction The logical Summing Junction
flowchart shape is shows when
multiple branches converge into
a single process. The merge
symbol is more common for this
use, though. This symbol and the
Or symbol are really more
relevant in data processing flow
diagrams than in process
flowcharts.

Input and Output Symbols

Symbol Name Description
Data The Data flowchart shape
(I/O) indicates inputs to and
outputs from a process. As
such, the shape is more
often referred to as an I/O
shape than a Data shape.
Document Pretty self explanatory - the
Document flowchart
symbol is for a process step
 that produces a document.
Multi-Document Same as Document, except,
well, multiple documents.
This shape is not as
commonly used as the
Document flowchart shape,
even when multiple
documents are implied.
Display Indicates a process step
where information is
displayed to a person (e.g.,
PC user, machine operator).
Manual Input Manual Input flowchart
shapes show process steps
where the operator/ user is
prompted for information
that must be manually input
into a system.
Card This is the companion to the
punched tape flowchart
shapes. This shape is
seldom used.
Punched Tape If you're very good at
stretching all the life out of
a machine, you may still
have use for the Punched
Tape symbol - used for
input into old computers
and CNC machines.

File and Information Storage Symbols

Symbol Name Description

Stored Data A general Data Storage

flowchart shape used for
any process step that stores
data (as opposed to the
more specific shapes to
follow next in this table).

Magnetic Disk The most universally

(Database) recognizable symbol for a
data storage location, this
flowchart shape depicts a
database.
 Direct Access Storage Direct Access Storage is a
fancy way of saying Hard
Drive.

Internal Storage Used in programming

flowcharts to mean
information stored in
memory, as opposed to on a
file.
Storage Sequential Access Although
(Magnetic Tape) it looks like a 'Q', the
symbol is supposed to look
like a reel of tape.

Data Processing Symbols

Symbol Name Description
Collate The Collate flowchart shape
indicates a process step that
requires organizing data,
information, or materials
according into a standard
format or arrangement.
Sort Indicates the sorting of data,
information, materials into
some pre-defined order.