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What Is A Process Flowchart - Process Flow Diagrams - ASQ

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231 views

What Is A Process Flowchart - Process Flow Diagrams - ASQ

Flowchart_

Uploaded by

TrinhTruong
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is a Process Flowchart?


Overview Alsocalled:processflowchart,processflowdiagram.
ReadMore
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.

JoinASQ!(/membership/why
When to Use a Flowchart becomea
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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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