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Flowchart: What It Is, the Symbols, and How it Differs from a Process Flow Diagram
A flowchart is a diagram that shows the steps of a process in order, with standard symbols for actions, decisions and flow. It maps how work actually moves. It gets confused with a process flow diagram, but a PFD shows the flow of material and equipment in a plant, while a flowchart shows the logic of a process or procedure.
Why is a flowchart important?
A flowchart matters because it turns a process that lives in people’s heads into a picture everyone reads the same way. Seeing the steps and decisions laid out makes it far easier to train new staff, spot bottlenecks, and agree on how the work should actually flow. That shared view is why flowcharts are a staple of process mapping, standard operating procedures, and continuous improvement.
What do the main flowchart symbols mean?
A handful of shapes carry most flowcharts:
- An oval marks the start or end.
- A rectangle is a process step, an action.
- A diamond is a decision, with a yes and a no branch.
- A parallelogram is an input or output.
- Arrows show the direction of flow between them.
How does a flowchart differ from a process flow diagram?
Logic versus material. A flowchart maps the sequence and decisions of a process or procedure, the steps and the branches. A process flow diagram (PFD) maps the physical flow of material through equipment in a plant, with streams and unit operations. One shows how a task is decided; the other shows how material moves. Both are ‘flow’, but of different things.
Flowchart vs process flow diagram at a glance
Process logic versus material flow.
| Aspect | Flowchart | Process Flow Diagram |
|---|---|---|
| Shows | Steps and decisions | Material through equipment |
| Used for | Procedures, logic, workflows | Plant and process design |
| Symbols | Boxes, diamonds, arrows | Streams, units, equipment |
| Field | General, any process | Process engineering |
Related Terms
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)– often documented with a flowchart.
- Root Cause Analysis – maps a problem’s logic.
- Commissioning Process – often drawn as a flowchart.
