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.