The Flow Chart as a Quality Tool

Defining the process is important to process control. Understanding the process itself is vital. To control a process, one must identify what is significant to manufacturing and production of the product/process. One way to help understand and define the process is a flow chart. The flow chart is a pictorial representation of the process.

It may include

• floor layout,

• proposed stops,

• transport methods,

• each process step with the critical or significant characteristics, and

• identification of current controls.

The communicating language of a flow chart is pictures, engineering symbols, and geometric shapes, all of which illustrate the process. To construct a flow chart of a product/process, the correct make-up of participants must be present. The following list of participants is suggested to start developing a flow chart:

• Those who work with the process (they are the process owners)

• Suppliers to the process

• Customers of the process

• Supervisor of the process function area

• Independent facilitator

As a general rule, the flow chart may be constructed by both the core and extended team members.