Lesson II:

Block Diagrams and Flowcharts

A Block Diagram – is a diagram of a system in which the principal parts or functions

are represented by blocks connected by lines that show the relationships of the blocks. They
are heavily used in engineering in hardware design, electronic design, software design, and
process flow diagrams.
A Flowchart – is a type of diagram that represents an algorithm, workflow or process.
The flowchart shows the steps as boxes of various kinds, and their order by connecting the
boxes with arrows. This diagrammatic representation illustrates a solution model to a given
problem

What Is The Difference Between Flowchart And Block Diagram?

FLOWCHARTS
Process Flowcharts
The main reason of using Process Flowchart or PFD is to show relations between major
parts of the System.

Process Flowcharts are used in process engineering and chemical industry where there is a
requirement of depicting relationships between major components only and not include minor
parts. Process Flowcharts for single unit or multiple units differ in their structure and
implementation.

Concept Draw PRO is Professional business process mapping software for making Process
flowcharts, Process flow diagram, Workflow diagram, flowcharts and technical illustrations for
business documents and also comprehensive vision for mac application. Easier define and
document basic work and data flows, financial, production and quality management processes
to increase efficiency of your business with Concept Draw PRO. Business process mapping
software with Flowchart Maker Concept Draw PRO includes extensive drawing tools, rich
examples and templates, process flowchart symbols and shape libraries, smart connectors that
allow you create the flowcharts of complex processes, process flow diagrams, procedures and
information exchange.

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Process Flowchart Solution is project management workflow tools which is part Concept
Draw Project marketing project management software. Drawing charts, diagrams, and network
layouts has long been the monopoly of Microsoft Visio, making Mac users to struggle when
needing such vision alternative like vision for mac, it requires only to view features, make a
minor edit to, or print a diagram or chart. Thankfully to MS Visio alternative like Concept Draw
PRO software, this is cross-platform charting and business process management tool, now
vision alternative for making sort of vision diagram is not a problem anymore however many
people still name it business process vision tools.

Basic Flowchart Symbols and Meaning

Flowcharts are the best for visually representation the business processes and the flow of a
custom-order process through various departments within an organization. Concept Draw PRO
diagramming and vector drawing software extended with Flowcharts solution offers the full set
of predesigned basic flowchart symbols which are gathered at two libraries: Flowchart and
Flowcharts Rapid Draw. Among them are: process, terminator, decision, data, document,
display, manual loop, and many other specific symbols. The meaning for each symbol offered
by Concept Draw gives the presentation about their proposed use in professional Flowcharts for
business and technical processes, software algorithms, well-developed structures of web sites,
Workflow diagrams, Process flow diagram and correlation in developing on-line instructional
projects or business process system. Use of ready flow chart symbols in diagrams is incredibly
useful - you need simply drag desired from the libraries to your document and arrange them in
required order. There are a few serious alternatives to Visio for Mac, one of them is Concept
Draw PRO. It is one of the main contender with the most similar features and capabilities.

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Types of Flowcharts

A Flowchart is a graphical representation of process, algorithm, workflow or step-by-step

solution of the problem. It shows the steps as boxes of various kinds and connects them by
arrows in a defined order depicting a flow.

There are twelve main Flowchart types:

 Basic Flowchart,
 Business Process Modeling Diagram (BPMN)
 Cross Functional Flowchart
 Data Flow Diagram (DFD)
 IDEF (Integrated Definition)
 Flowchart, Event-driven Process Chain (EPC) Diagram
 Influence Diagram (ID)
 Swimlane Flowchart, Process Flow Diagram (PFD)
 Specification and Description Language (SDL) Diagram
 Value Stream Mapping
 Workflow Diagram.

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 Using the Flowcharts solution from the Diagrams area of Concept Draw Solution Park
you can easy and quickly design a Flowchart of any of these types. This solution offers a lot of
special predesigned vector symbols for each of these widely used notations. They will make the
drawing process of Flowcharts much easier than ever. Pay also attention for the included
collection of ready Flowchart examples, samples and quick-start templates. This is business
process improvement tools. If you are looking for MS Visio for your Mac, then you are out of
luck, because it hasn't been released yet. However, you can use Visio alternatives that can
successfully replace its functions. Concept Draw PRO is an alternative to MS Visio for Mac that
provides powerful features and intuitive user interface for the same.

Cross-Functional Flowchart

Use of Cross-Functional Flowchart is a clear way of showing each team member’s

responsibilities and how processes get shared or transferred between different responsible
people, teams and departments.
Use the best flowchart maker Concept Draw PRO with a range of standardized cross-functional
flowchart symbols to create the Cross-Functional Flowcharts simply and to visualize the
relationship between a business process and the functional units responsible for that process.
To draw the most quickly Cross-Functional Flowcharts, Cross Functional Process Maps,
or Cross Functional Process Flow Diagrams, start with a Cross-functional flowchart samples
and templates from Concept Draw Solution Park. The Concept Draw Arrows10 and Rapid Draw
technologies will be also useful for you in drawing. Concept Draw PRO supports designing both
types - horizontal and vertical Cross-functional flowcharts. A vertical layout makes the accents
mainly on the functional units while a horizontal layout - on the process. If you need a Visio
alternative in Mac OS X, try Concept Draw PRO. Its interface is very intuitive and it’s actually
much easier to use than Visio, yet somehow it’s just as powerful if not more so. Concept Draw
PRO performs professional quality work and seamless Visio interaction.

Functional Flow Block Diagram

You need to draw a Functional Flow Block Diagram? You are an artist? Now it doesn't
matter. With Block Diagrams solution from the "Diagrams" area for Concept Draw Solution Park
you don't need more to be an artist to design the Functional Flow Block Diagram of any
complexity.

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UML Block Diagram

Use Case Diagram Taxi Service UML. This sample was created in ConceptDraw PRO
diagramming and vector drawing software using the UML Use Case Diagram library of the
Rapid UML Solution from the Software Development area of ConceptDraw Solution Park. This
sample shows the work of the taxi service and is used by taxi stations, by airports, in the tourism
field and delivery service.

Basic Diagramming

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 “Functional
Flow Block Diagram”, or
“FFBD” – is a time-
sequenced and “step-by-
step” flow diagram, with
the help of which it is
convenient to describe some
system’s functional flow.

The “Functional
Flow Block Diagram
notation” was developed in the 50s, and it is quite widely used in classical systems engineering.
“Functional Flow Block Diagrams” are the ones, used in the classic business process while
modelling different methodologies, as well as flow charts, control flow diagrams, so-called
“PERT” diagrams, “IDEF”, “Gantt” charts and flow charts. “Functional Flow Block Diagrams”
can be also known as “Functional Flows”, “Functional Flow Diagrams” or “Functional Block
Diagrams”.

“Functional Flow Block Diagrams” are usually made using a number of different levels.
With their aid it is simpler to show the same tasks, which are identified through functional
decomposition and so to display these tasks in their logical and sequential relations. These
diagrams can be used for developing the requirements and for identifying the profitable trade
studies. This kind of diagram helps incorporate the alternate as well as contingency operations
and, as a result, to improve the probability of the particular mission success.

Using the flow diagrams, it is simpler to provide an understanding of some operation of

the system in general. These diagrams can be used as a basis for development of both
contingency and operational procedures. The pinpoints areas can be also mentioned on the
flow diagrams and with the help of them it is also possible to represent different means of
satisfying some function, but it is important to take into consideration, that each of the functions
which are described with the aid of “FFBD” should be separated and so represented in a way of
a single box. Function numbering: Each stage should have an according number scheme and
provide the data regarding function origin. These numbers establish identification and
relationships that will carry through all Functional Analysis and Allocation activities and facilitate
traceability from lower to top levels.

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 There are a few principles, which is always better to follow in terms of creating the
functional flow block diagrams. First of all, each of the diagrams should contain a reference to
other functional diagrams in a way of using some particular functional reference. Secondly, the
lines, created within such diagrams, (those, which show the connections between different
functions) should indicate a function flow, but not an intermediate activity. Also these diagrams
should be laid out for the flow direction to go from the left side to the right one. There are often
arrows used within such diagrams and they are there for indicating the different functional flows.
A circle also can be used while making such diagram and it can be used for denoting a
summing gate. “Bar G” and “G” are used for denoting such conditions as “go” and “no-go”. On
such block diagram a function should be represented in a way of a rectangle which contains the
function’s title as well as its unique decimal delimited number. A horizontal line can be used too
and it is usually there for separating the number from the title itself.

The basic logic symbols for making any “Functional Flow Block Diagram” can be: “AND”
(shows the condition when all of the succeeding or the preceding paths are required; this
symbol may contain an input with a few outputs or a few inputs with a single output, but never
mixed multiple inputs and outputs), “Exclusive OR” (described a condition, when only one of the
multiple succeeding or preceding paths is required, but never all of them; this symbol may
contain an input with a few outputs, or a few inputs with an output, but never mixed inputs and
outputs) and “Inclusive OR” (describes a condition when a few or all of the multiple succeeding
or preceding paths are being required).

Every “Functional Flow Block Diagram” should contain a name of the person or an
organization, which created this diagram, a date, showing when this diagram was created, a
unique number of the function, which is diagrammed, and also a unique function name of that
function, which is being diagrammed.

There are so many other block diagrams as well as “flow” ones, apart from the
Functional Flow Block Diagram and you can always make any wanted with the help of
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM as this software allows you to make the needed chart, flowchart,
scheme, plan, schematics, drawing, diagram, including any of the existing “flow diagrams” and
“block diagrams” within only a very short period of time as the Block Diagrams solution from the
"Diagrams" area for ConceptDraw Solution Park, which can be found on this site and so
downloaded for using, provides the necessary tools, including the examples of Functional Flow
Block Diagrams of any complexity which can be used for making your own great looking
diagram in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM

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 Having ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software as well as the needed solutions can simplify
your work with making any needed drawing as well as save your time as it is well known that
“time is money”, so getting the convenient and very useful application can save both — your
time and your money. Try it as well as solutions and see the difference with any other
applications you ever used.

You need to draw a Functional Flow Block Diagram? You are an artist? Now it doesn't
matter. With Block Diagrams solution from the "Diagrams" area for ConceptDraw Solution Park
you don't need more to be an artist to design the Functional Flow Block Diagram of any
complexity.

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Example 1. Functional Flow Block Diagram - Total Solution Process

Block Diagrams Solution includes 5 libraries with 190 vector objects which will allow to draw any
Functional Flow Block Diagram:

 Block Diagrams
 Raised Blocks
 Blocks with Perspective
 Callouts
 Connectors

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Example 2. Block Diagrams Library Design Elements

Don't forget to use the colors, to make color accents — they help to make your diagram
bright, beautiful, attractive, and certainly successful on various conferences, in publications, etc.

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Example 3. Functional Flow Block Diagram — Six Markets Model

The Functional Flow Block Diagrams you see on this page were created in ConceptDraw
DIAGRAM using the tools of Block Diagrams Solution. They are included in Block Diagrams
Solution and available from ConceptDraw STORE. An experienced user spent 5-10 minutes
creating every of them.

Example 4. Block Diagrams Solution

Use the Block Diagrams Solution for ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software to create your
own professional looking Functional Flow Block Diagram fast and easy, and then successfully
use it in your work activity.

All source documents are vector graphic documents. They are available for reviewing,
modifying, or converting to a variety of formats (PDF file, MS PowerPoint, MS Visio, and many
other graphic formats) from the ConceptDraw STORE. The Block Diagrams Solution is available
for all ConceptDraw DIAGRAM or later users.

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