Last Updated on 16 September 2023
Flowcharts (often written flow charts or flow diagram) are a powerful tool for process mapping, that you’re likely to have already run into in your life outside of Six Sigma.
It is shows the steps of a process, in a way that is easy to interpret. They are designed to be able to see the nature and flow of process steps.
They usually include all steps of the process, movement between processes and decisions that need to be made. The decisions usually lead to a fork in the flowchart where there is a choice of which path to take.
Basic charts
Most processes can be mapped using just three basic symbols and basic connectors, although more complicated symbols do exist. The following four symbols should let you complete most flowcharts:
You can map out the process in a high level using these symbols, which will be quick to make and easy to interpret. At a decision block, you will have one connector in, but multiple connectors out. The result of the decision to be made will affect which path you take out of the block.
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