Home > Operations > Products and Services > Creating a Production Flow Chart


Holly Ocasio Rizzo

Guide to Creating a Production Flow Chart

An eye-catching presentation smoothes the way to solving bottlenecks


Highly
Useful
6.1
out of 10

Add Your Comments
 
 
Email Guide to Creating a Production Flow Chart to a friend
Save the Guide to Creating a Production Flow Chart to My Work.com Favorites
Print the Guide to Creating a Production Flow Chart
link to this page
Save to del.icio.us
digg it!


Businesses use flow charts to analyze all sorts of processes. Charts pick up where words end – they help project leaders and others to visualize how the work is done or how it will be done. A production flow chart benefits your business in these ways:
  1. It illustrates the steps to creating a product or service.
  2. It helps to identify inefficiencies in the system.
  3. It maps out improvements and resolutions.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Draw charts with software


Put your mouse to work, building professional-looking charts with your choice of design elements.

I recommend: Pacestar Software says most people can learn to use its Edge Diagrammer in a few minutes. Downloadable Smartdraw software offers built-in colors and shadows. Rent flowchart software for one to six months from Patton & Patton Software Corp.

Create them with a template


Use Microsoft Excel, part of MS Office, as the basis for creating attractive, colorful and easy-to-read flow charts.

I recommend: Systems2Win Excel templates are licensed for an unlimited number of users.

Put it on a board


Hang your chart on the wall, where it's easy to see – and where it invites input during meetings.

I recommend: Magnatag offers production planning boards in more than two dozen designs.

Base your flow-chart steps on data


Time and motion studies tell you how long each step in the process takes.

I recommend: Timer Pro Professional lets you use your personal computer to track time.

Use your flow chart productively


Sometimes it's difficult to figure out what to do about the bottlenecks you've identified with your flow chart. That's when an expert comes in handy.

I recommend: The Hemphill Productivity Institute specializes in overcoming obstacles to workflow.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • Use color in your flow chart to delineate individual steps.
  • Ask someone to proofread your chart, making sure no steps have been missed.
  • Include every step, no matter how small.

The official source of Creating a Production Flow Chart is
the Charting Software page at Business.com

Featured Vendors

Charting Software
Create forms, timelines & flowcharts with our charting software. Institutional discounts. Download now!
www.smartdraw.com

Forex Club ® - A Smarter Way to Trade Forex
Zero spreads and zero commissions on non-profitable trades. Get a free demo account today or open a live account and get a $100 bonus.
www.fxclub.com

Interbank FX
We Give You The Tools You Need. Try A Free Demo Account!
www.ibfx.com

Foreign Exchange Software
Compare Foreign Exchange Software using Capterra's free, comprehensive directory.
Capterra.com

Subscribe to

Try our free weekly WhatWorks newsletter, with business how-to advice
& resources from Work.com.

click here to view a sample issue
 Related Resources from Business.com Back to top 
 Recommended Solution Providers Back to top 

ConceptDraw software products help users visualize their ideas and processes and create flow charts. The software is compatible with Macintosh and Windows.

Softplatz.com is an online catalog of software available to download from the Internet. There are several dozen listings for flow chart software at various prices that users can choose from. Users can post their reviews of the product.

One of the main features of SmartDraw's business graphics software is a flow chart tool. The tutorial offers several links on how to create a flow chart and visitors can download a free trial of the product.

This document is a quick look at how to create a flow chart. No links, but useful tips.


 Best Sites to Learn MoreBack to top 

This website offers several links to webpages that explain how to create a flowchart.

iSixSigma offers articles covering the basics about and specific uses for business process mapping and flow charting techniques.


  CommentsBack to top 

Loading Comments...


Add Your Comments


Email Guide to Creating a Production Flow Chart to a friend
Save the Guide to Creating a Production Flow Chart to My Work.com Favorites
Print the Guide to Creating a Production Flow Chart
link to this page
Save to del.icio.us
digg it!


Is any content on this page inappropriate? To let us know, please click here.

Ads by Google







© 2008 Work.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Work.com is a property of Business.com.
Help | About Us | Site Map | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Community Policy | Community Blog | Advertise on Work.com | Contact Us / Feedback | Work.com Feed