What is a Process Flowchart and How to use it [5+ Examples]

A process flowchart is a graphical representation of a business process through a flowchart. It’s used as a means of getting a top-down understanding of how a process works, what steps it consists of, what events change outcomes, and so on.

What’s a Process Flowchart

A business process is a series of repeatable tasks your business needs to carry out in order to achieve some sort of business goal.

Flowcharts, on the other hand, are a means of visualizing the process.

Process flowchart example: content marketing

Process flowcharts are an essential part of business process mapping. They help visualize your processes, making them significantly easier to fully comprehend.

Other than that, process flowcharts are usually used for…

• Understanding how a process works
• Improving the Process – Once you know how the process works, you can figure out potential improvements. You could, for example, remove or automate certain steps. You can even completely re-engineer the process and fundamentally change how it works.
• Standardizing a Process – Unless you’ve documented your processes, your employees will figure out different ways to carry it out. With a process flowchart, you can ensure that everyone’s on the same page about how the process should be done.
• Writing a Standard Operating Procedure – A process flowchart is just that – a flowchart. SOPs on the other hand, are a full documentation on how that process functions, how to carry it out, what tools or tech to use, and so on.

To really get the most out of your processes, you’d want to go for all of the options we just mentioned.

How to Draw a Process Flowchart in 3 Steps

At a glance, this sounds pretty simple – just about everyone can draw a flowchart.

Really making it accurate, though, isn’t all that simple. It’s one thing to look at the process from a management point of view; it’s another to actually understand what it consists of: the steps, methodologies, tools, and so on.

So, to draw a process flowchart, you should start with…

Step #1: Decide Whether You Need a Process Flowchart

Before you can even start learning about the process, you should make sure that a process flowchart is the right tool for the job.

If your aim is process analysis from a more top-level perspective, you might want to use other tools. While process flowcharts are perfect for detailing the step-by-steps of a process, they’re not as useful for gaining a deeper understanding.

SIPOC diagram, for example, analyses the entire process of product creation and delivery. It’s divided into 5 parts – suppliers, inputs, processes, outputs, customers.

Step #2: Gather the Right Information

Unless you’re the one working on the process on a daily basis, you probably need to catch up on the details.

Even if the process seems simple or straightforward at a glance, there are a lot of small details that add up to it.  You’d want to know, for example…

• What the exact process steps are
• Variables and events. In which situations do you deviate from a process
• Who’s in charge of what process step

So to really understand the inner workings of a process, consult shop floor employees. Set up a meeting and pick their brains. Who knows, maybe they’ll even have ideas on how to improve the process.

Step #3: Create the Process Flowchart

Once you have the information on how a process works, you can actually start drawing the flowchart.

If you want to keep it simple, you can use the basic process symbols…

A better (but more complicated) option, though, would be to use BPMN2.

Business Process Modeling and Notation (BPMN) is a standardized methodology for documenting processes. Following the BPMN model makes it easier for your employees, management, as well as external consultants to understand the process map.

Whichever methodology you choose, you’ll then need to actually draw the flowchart. There are 3 ways to do this…

1. Pen & Paper – The simplest option is to just grab a piece of paper, a pen and just draw the flowchart physically.
2. Online Graphing Software – Chances are, you’re going to want the process flowchart to be digital. This makes it easier to make edits, share it with employees, and so on. To create an online flowchart, you can use a tool like LucidCharts.
3. Business Process Management Software (BPMS) – While BPM software rarely helps create flowcharts, it does something even better. You can use BPMS to create digital processes, which you can either analyze or simply execute through the system. The software automates the process execution. Meaning, when a process step is completed, the next employee in line is automatically assigned the right task.

3 Process Flowchart Examples

You can create process flowcharts for just about any business process, whether it’s onboarding, sales, document approval, or anything in-between.

To give you a better idea of how these look, we’ll cover 3 examples of process flowcharts of different business processes.

Employee Onboarding Process

Just about every company ends up hiring new employees. Onboarding is an essential step in getting them up to speed & educating them on how the company or department functions.

Hence, it’s always a good idea to have a clear, structured process for this.

While the process varies from company to company, here’s a basic example…

1. The HR gets the new employee to sign up the documents or legalities
2. The documents go through an approval process between the HR and company management
3. HR lets the company employees know about the new hire through email
4. Office manager prepares all the necessary supplies or handouts
   1. Tech – software access, personal computer, etc.
   2. Welcome swag – Gifts, company t-shirt, etc.
   3. Onboarding materials
   4. Entrance ID

Or, as it would look in a process flowchart form…

Document Approval Process

Getting all the right approvals for any document can be a major hassle. It involves a lot of emails back and forth, some of which end up getting lost or delayed. Having a procedure makes approvals significantly faster & more efficient.

The following is a basic document approval process, and it can apply to just about any type of document (legal, hr, etc.).

1. The document is submitted
2. If the document is disapproved, process canceled.
3. If approved, the document is stored in a relevant folder
4. Automatic email sent to any relevant party

Or, as it would look like in a flowchart…

To make this process even smoother, you can use approvals management software. Instead of having to shoot emails back and forth, you’d just start the process through Tallyfy & the system will make sure everyone’s signs at the right time.

Incident Response Process

Any company should have a contingency plan for potential incidents. While you can’t always predict what’s going to happen, you can have a strategy on how to react in such situations.

The following process flowchart example is for a cyber attack.

1. The emergency is reported by a company employee after discovering an identified USB plugged into their computer
2. The threat is evaluated by the security team. If false alarm, the process ends
3. Emergency email sent to relevant company executives
4. The company management and security team hold an emergency meeting
5. The solution is proposed and applied
6. If the solution didn’t work, the process rolls back to step 4. If it does, the process is completed

And of course, as a flowchart…

Process Flowcharts: An Essential Start to Business Process Management

Creating process flowcharts, while useful for introspection, is only a start.

You need to analyze the process, figure out potential improvements, implement them, and so on. After all, you really don’t get much by simply drawing the flowchart.

To learn how to do all this and more, check out our guide on Business Process Management. And no, it’s not just another buzzword-definition article – we’re going to explain how, exactly, BPM can help you optimizes your processes.

Related Questions

What is the process flowchart?

A process flowchart is a picture-perfect way to show how things get done. It’s like a map that uses shapes and arrows to guide you through each step of a task or project. Imagine you’re baking cookies – a process flowchart would show you every move from mixing ingredients to taking those warm, gooey treats out of the oven. It’s a visual tool that makes complex processes easy to understand at a glance.

What is process flow and example?

Process flow is the journey a task takes from start to finish. It’s like following a river from its source to the sea. For example, think about ordering a pizza online. The process flow might look like this: You choose your toppings, submit your order, the restaurant receives it, they make your pizza, a driver picks it up, and finally, it arrives at your door. Each step flows into the next, creating a smooth path from hungry thought to happy meal.

How do you write a flowchart for a process?

Creating a flowchart is like telling a story with shapes. Start with a ‘once upon a time’ oval for the beginning. Use rectangles for each step, diamonds for decisions where the story could go different ways, and arrows to connect everything. Keep it simple – each shape should have just one main idea. As you draw, imagine you’re explaining the process to a friend. When you reach your ‘happily ever after’ ending, use another oval. Remember, your flowchart should be clear enough that anyone can follow the story without getting lost.

What is the process flow diagram?

A process flow diagram is like a behind-the-scenes look at how things work. While it’s similar to a flowchart, it often focuses on the big picture of systems or industries. Imagine peeking inside a chocolate factory – a process flow diagram would show how cocoa beans become delicious bars, including all the machines and ingredients involved. It’s a more technical cousin of the flowchart, used by engineers and managers to understand and improve complex operations.

What are the 7 steps of a flowchart?

The 7 steps of creating a flowchart are like following a recipe for clarity. First, gather your ingredients by identifying the process you want to map. Next, list out all the steps in order. Third, choose your shapes – ovals for start and end, rectangles for actions, diamonds for decisions. Fourth, arrange these shapes in a logical sequence. Fifth, connect the shapes with arrows to show the flow. Sixth, add any necessary information or labels. Finally, review and refine your flowchart, making sure it’s easy to follow and accurately represents the process. These steps transform a jumble of ideas into a clear, visual guide.

What are the 5 elements of a flowchart?

The 5 key elements of a flowchart are the building blocks of process visualization. First, you have symbols – the shapes that represent different types of actions or decisions. Next are lines and arrows, which show the direction and flow of the process. Third is text, the clear and concise descriptions inside each shape. Fourth is the sequence, the logical order in which steps are arranged. Lastly, there’s the overall structure, how all these pieces fit together to tell the story of your process. These elements work together like instruments in an orchestra, creating a harmonious visual representation of how things get done.