The document provides examples and definitions of common flowchart elements and shapes. It includes 4 sample flowcharts: one demonstrating basic shapes and definitions, one showing the coffee brewing process, and two using horizontal and vertical swimlanes to illustrate workflows involving multiple departments or systems. Swimlanes indicate the specific part of the process that each department or system is responsible for.

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

4. Department
Group
Three
Start
Flowchart with Horizontal Swimlanes
Input
Task Manual Input
Merge Document
Decision Finish
Department
Department
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