Understanding the flowchart

What is a flowchart

Understanding the value of the flowchart

Flowchart, diagram, mapping, Grafcet — explained

Un flowchart is a diagram or chart used to represent, visually and in a structured way, a sequence of actions, steps or instructions for solving a problem or carrying out a process. It is widely used in project management, IT, logistics and industry to represent algorithms or decision processes.

The flowchart uses standardised symbols to represent different types of actions:

Ovalrepresents the start or end of a process.
Rectanglerepresents an action or a step in the process.
Diamondrepresents a decision point where a question is asked and the flow branches depending on the answer (yes/no, true/false).
Arrowindicates the direction of the flow of information or activities.

It clearly shows the relationships between the steps of a process, making analysis, decision-making and optimisation easier. Flowcharts are especially useful for simplifying complex processes and making them easier to understand.

A concrete example

What a flowchart looks like

Flowchart example — document management Document management procedure: start, drafting, 'approved?' decision, distribution, archiving, with a return to drafting if not approved. Start Drafting Approved? Yes Distribution Archiving No
Document management: the 'Approved?' decision loops back to drafting until it is approved (feedback loop).
Flowchart example — recruitment process Recruitment process: start, job posting, receiving applications, 'qualified candidate?' decision. If yes: interview; if no: inform the candidate. Both outcomes lead to the end. Start Job posting Receiving applications Candidate qualified? Yes No Interview Inform the candidate End
Recruitment: the 'Qualified candidate?' decision opens two separate paths that merge at the end.

The same symbols in both cases: oval (start/end), rectangle (step), diamond (decision), arrows (flow direction).

Here is a visual example of a flowchart showing a sequence of actions, including a decision point and the following steps. As shown, standard shapes such as the oval, rectangle and diamond are used to represent steps, actions and decisions.

This gives you a clear picture of how a process can be modelled with a flowchart.

Use cases

The flowchart, industry by industry

Un flowchart can be applied in many professional fields to model processes, decisions and sequences of actions. Here is a breakdown with several use cases across various industries, as well as the specific applications.

01

Project management

Application: Modelling project steps, planning and resource management.

Example: Progress of a construction project.

  • Project start (oval).
  • Step 1: Designing the plans (rectangle).
  • Decision: Plans approved? (diamond, yes/no).
  • If yes: Step 2: Move on to the construction phase (rectangle).
  • If no: Review the plans (rectangle).
  • Project end (oval).
02

Customer service

Application: Managing customer requests and complaints.

Example: Request handling process.

  • Start (oval).
  • Step 1: Receiving the request (rectangle).
  • Decision: Request complete? (diamond, yes/no).
  • If yes: Step 2: Processing the request (rectangle).
  • If no: Step 3: Request more information (rectangle).
  • Resolution (oval).
03

Software development

Application: Algorithms, workflows, or decision structures in code.

Example: Simple algorithm.

  • Start (oval).
  • Step 1: User data input (rectangle).
  • Decision: Data valid? (diamond, yes/no).
  • If yes: Calculating the results (rectangle).
  • If no: Request new data (rectangle).
  • End (oval).
04

Industry

Application: Optimising production lines, quality control processes.

Example: Quality control on a production line.

  • Start (oval).
  • Step 1: Product being manufactured (rectangle).
  • Decision: Product meets standards? (diamond, yes/no).
  • If yes: Send to packaging (rectangle).
  • If no: Reject the product or rework it (rectangle).
  • End (oval).
05

Logistics and transport

Application: Optimising logistics flows, inventory management.

Example: Order tracking.

  • Start (oval).
  • Step 1: Order placed (rectangle).
  • Step 2: Parcel shipped (rectangle).
  • Decision: Parcel delivered? (diamond, yes/no).
  • If yes: Confirm receipt (rectangle).
  • If no: Reship or track (rectangle).
  • End (oval).
06

Human resources

Application: Managing recruitment processes.

Example: Recruitment process.

  • Start (oval).
  • Step 1: Publishing the job offer (rectangle).
  • Step 2: Receiving applications (rectangle).
  • Decision: Qualified candidate? (diamond, yes/no).
  • If yes: Interview (rectangle).
  • If no: Inform the candidate (rectangle).
  • End (oval).
07

Finance

Application: Automating billing processes, financial risk analysis.

Example: Invoice approval process.

  • Start (oval).
  • Step 1: Receiving the invoice (rectangle).
  • Decision: Invoice correct? (diamond, yes/no).
  • If yes: Approval and payment (rectangle).
  • If no: Return to sender for correction (rectangle).
  • End (oval).
08

Insurance

Application: Claims management, approval of compensation requests.

Example: Processing an insurance claim.

  • Start (oval).
  • Step 1: Receiving the claim (rectangle).
  • Step 2: Verifying the information (rectangle).
  • Decision: Claim valid? (diamond, yes/no).
  • If yes: Pay the compensation (rectangle).
  • If no: Reject the claim (rectangle).
  • End (oval).
09

Marketing

Application: New product launch processes, advertising campaigns.

Example: Launching a marketing campaign.

  • Start (oval).
  • Step 1: Designing the campaign (rectangle).
  • Decision: Market test successful? (diamond, yes/no).
  • If yes: Official launch (rectangle).
  • If no: Revise the campaign (rectangle).
  • End (oval).
10

Healthcare

Application: Care protocols, patient management.

Example: Patient care.

  • Start (oval).
  • Step 1: Registering the patient (rectangle).
  • Step 2: Diagnosis (rectangle).
  • Decision: Hospitalisation required? (diamond, yes/no).
  • If yes: Admission (rectangle).
  • If no: Home follow-up (rectangle).
  • End (oval).

Examples of commonly used symbols

  • Oval: Start or end of the process.
  • Rectangle: Represents a task or an action.
  • Diamond: Indicates a decision where the flow can branch.
  • Arrows: Show the progression of the process from one step to the next.

General applications of the flowchart

  1. Process optimisation: Identify bottlenecks or inefficiencies.
  2. Task standardisation: Make learning and communication within a team easier.
  3. Task automation: Used to schedule automated tasks based on conditional decisions.
  4. Risk management: Make risk assessment easier by mapping decision points.
  5. Training: An educational tool that helps employees or students understand complex processes.

In short, the flowchart is an extremely versatile tool that can be applied to almost any industry to organise, optimise and visualise processes or decisions.

Go further: discover the benefits of QALITEL logigramme.

Why not draw your own ?

You have got the idea — now put it into practice. QALITEL logigramme opens in your browser: oval, rectangle, diamond, arrow — you draw your first flowchart in just a few minutes.

Create a flowchart for free → See editions & pricing