1. Workshop on Flowcharts Presented by: Larry Parker, BSMT (ASCP), MHSA, ASQ CQA American Society for Quality Central Arkansas Section 1407

2. Quality Tools Flowcharts

3. Quality Tools Flowcharts A flowchart is a picture of the separate steps of a process in sequential order.

4. Quality Tools Elements of a Flowchart: Sequence of actions Materials Inputs and outputs of the process Decision points Resources needed Time or process measure

5. Quality Tools Flowcharts When do you use flowcharts? To develop an understanding of a process To study a process for improvement To communicate to others how a process is done When better communication is needed between people involved in the same process To document or plan a process

6. Quality Tools Flowcharts Basic Procedure: 1.Define the process to be diagrammed. 2.Brainstorm the activities that take place in the process. 3.Arrange the activities in the proper sequence. 4.Draw the flow of the sequence. 5.Review the flowchart with others involved in the process to finalize.

7. Quality Tools Considerations when flowcharting: Don’t worry about drawing the flowchart the “right way”. Identify and involve the key people involved in the process. Have the people that actually perform the process construct the flowchart. Make sure that all members of the process participate in constructing the flowchart.

8. Quality Tools Types of Flowcharts: Macro Flowchart Top-down Flowchart Detailed Flowchart (process map) Deployment Flowchart (process map including who does what) Several-leveled Flowchart

9. Quality Tools

10. Questions? Thank you for your attention!