WHAT IS FLOWCHART



A flowchart is a picture of the steps of a process in a sequential order .It is a generic tool that can be adapted for a wide variety of purposes , and can be used to describe various process such as manufacturing process  an administrative or services process or a project plan .It’s is a common process analysis . tool and one of the seven basic quality tools .

Elements that may be included in a flowchart are a sequence of actions , material or services entering or leaving the process ( input and outputs ) decision that must be made people who become involves time involved at each step and process measurements .

·      To develop understanding of how a process is done .

·      To study a process for improvement.

·      To communicate to others how a process is done .

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

·      To document a process .

·      When planning a project .

 

FLOW CHART SYMBOLS

1.  Terminator

The terminator symbol represent the starting and ending point of the symbol

2.  Process

A box indicates some particular operations.

3.  Document

This represent a printout such a document or a report .

4.  Decision

A diamond represents  and decision or branching pint lines coming out from the diamond indicated different possible situations leading to different sub process .

5.  Data

It represents information entering or leaving the system . An input might ot be an order from a customer .Output can be product ot be delivered .

6.  On page reference

This symbol would contain a letter inside .It indicates the flow continues on a matching flow continues on a matching symbol containing the same letter somewhere else on a different page .

7.  Delay or bottleneck

Identifies a delay or a bottleneck .

8.  Flow lines or arrow

Flow lines are used to connect system used in flow chart and indicate direction of flow .

9.  Connector

It is used connect or joint flow lines .

10.              Annotation

It is used to provide additional information about another flowchart symbol in the form of comments or remarks .