This document provides examples and definitions for basic flowchart elements. It includes a sample flowchart for brewing coffee with shapes like start, task, decision, and merge. It also shows how to use horizontal and vertical swimlanes to indicate the department or system responsible for each part of the process. Swimlanes allow separating a flowchart into logical areas to better visualize workflows.

1. Flowcharts
The following sample flowcharts are easy to customize. Simply click
on a word, shape or rule to edit, change color or adjust an element.
Contents
• Slide 2: Basic Flowchart Shapes and Definitions
• Slide 3: Flowchart Example: Brewing Coffee
• Slide 4: Flowchart with Horizontal Swimlanes
• Slide 5: Flowchart with Vertical Swimlanes
A “Swimlane” indicates the department or system responsible for a
specific part of the workflow or process.

2. Basic Flowchart Shapes and Definitions
Start / End
The start or end of a workflow.
Project / Task
Process or action.
Split
or
Merge
Upright indicates a process split,
inverted indicates a merge of processes.
Off Page
Connector
Connector used to connect one
page of a flowchart to another.
Connector
Used to connect one part of
a flowchart to another.
Decision
Decision point in a
process or workflow.
Input / Output
Data: Inputs to, and outputs
from, a process.
Document
Document or report.
Manual
Input
Prompt for information, manually
entered into a system.

3. CoffeeMug
Start
Flowchart Example: Brewing Coffee
Add Filter
Grind Beans
Pour
Brew
Read
Instructions
Cream
CoffeeGrinder
Task
Document Add Coffee
Add Water
Inputs
Inputs
Finish
CoffeePotCoffeeMug
Sugar
Drink
Task
Manual Input
Decision Decision
Merge
No
No
Yes
Yes

4. Department
GroupThree
Start
Flowchart with Horizontal Swimlanes
Input
Task Manual Input
Merge Document
Decision Finish
DepartmentDepartment
No Yes

5. System One
Start
Process Improvement
Process
Improved?
Input / Output
Produce
Documents
Flowchart with Vertical Swimlanes
System Two System Three System Four
Completed
Review data
Change Process
No
Yes

6. System One
Start
Process Improvement
Process
Improved?
Input / Output
Produce
Documents
Flowchart with Vertical Swimlanes
System Two System Three System Four
Completed
Review data
Change Process
No
Yes