Lecture 5.1 Visual Modelling Languages - Flowcharts

7/30/2019 Lecture 5.1 Visual Modelling Languages - Flowcharts

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Visual Modelling Languages

FlowchartsM05EKM Business Simulation

Dr Ammar Al-Bazi

Lecture 5.1



Lecture Outlines

• Introduction

• Flowchart Definition

• Importance of Flowcharts

• Why We Use Flowcharts

• Flowchart Field of

Applications

• Types of Flowcharts

• Flowcharts Building

Blocks

• Creating Flowcharts

• Flowchart ControlStructures

• Visual Example

• Case Studies

• Comments



Flowcharts Definition• A graphical or symbolic

representation of a process.Each step in the process is

represented by a different

symbol and contains a short

description of the process step.

The flow chart symbols are

linked together with arrows

showing the process flowdirection• An organised combination of shapes, lines, and text

that graphically illustrates a process or structure



Importance of Flowcharts

• Building a step-by-step picture of the process

for analysis, discussion, or communication

purposes.

• Defining, standardising, or finding areas for

improvement in a process.• Flowcharts are recognised as on of the most

important ways to effectively communicate ideas

between people who may differ in knowledge,

education, and position• Without flowcharts, you can spend a ton of

energy explaining how the process is to be done!



Why We Use Flowcharts

• Create visual maps of a process• Help with planning a project

• Quality improvement tool

• Identify processes that needimprovement

• Identify unnecessary/ problem steps

in a process• Good communication tool



Flowchart Field of Applications

• Production – Manufacturing

– Used to identify critical

path

• Accounting – Help visualize money

flow

• Services – Restaurants

– Real estate

• Education – Curriculum

flowcharts

–

Student flow throughprocess

• Hospitals – Patient flow

– Medical processes



Types of Flowcharts

That there are four general types of flowcharts:

• Document flowcharts, showing controls over a

document-flow through a system.

• Data flowcharts, showing controls over a data flows

in a system.

• System flowcharts showing controls at a physical or resource level.

• Program flowchart, showing the controls in a

program within a system.

Notice that every type of flowchart focuses on some kind of control, rather than onthe particular flow itself.

In addition, many diagram techniques exist that are similar to flowcharts but carry a

different name, such as UML Activity

Diagrams.



Flowchart Building Blocks



Flowchart Building Blocks (Cont)












Creating Flowcharts



Common Rules for Flowcharts

• Indicate and label all elements of the project

• Sequence of events is clear

• No gaps or dead ends

• Must be logical to the user

• Use correct symbols



Flowchart Control Structure

The Three Basic Control Structure are:

1. Sequence 2. Selection (a)



Flowchart Control Structure (Cont)

The Three Basic Control Structure are:

3. Selection (b) 4. Repetition



Flowchart Software

•Some tools offer special support for flowchart drawing such as Microsoft

Visio.

•

Many software packages exist that cancreate flowcharts automatically, either

directly from source code, or from a

flowchart description language. On-line

Web-based versions of such programs

are available



Visual Example



Real Life Case StudyMore details can be found in: http://itc.scix.net/data/works/att/w78-2008-7-05.pdf

Al-Bazi A. and Dawood N. (2008). “Enterprise Simulation of the Precast Concrete Manufacturing Industry” . CIB W78 2008 International

Conference on Information Technology in Construction. Santiago, Chile.

http://itc.scix.net/data/works/att/w78-2008-7-05.pdf

http://tees.academia.edu/AmmarAlBazi/Papers/99014/ENTERPRISE_SIMULATION_OF_THE_PRECAST_CONCRETE































Comments

• Valuable and unique quality

improvement tool

• Simple and effective way of visualising

and understanding a process

• Entire organisation has an effect on the

flowchart

• Everyone involved can take part in

improving the process

Documents

Lecture 5.1 Visual Modelling Languages - Flowcharts