What is a sequence of phases in which the output of each phase becomes the input for the next multiple choice question?

Quality Glossary Definition: Flowchart

Also called: process flowchart, process flow diagram

Variations: macro flowchart, top-down flowchart, detailed flowchart (also called process map, micro map, service map, or symbolic flowchart), deployment flowchart (also called down-across or cross-functional flowchart), several-leveled flowchart

A flowchart is a picture of the separate steps of a process in sequential order. It is a generic tool that can be adapted for a wide variety of purposes, and can be used to describe various processes, such as a manufacturing process, an administrative or service process, or a project plan. It's a common process analysis tool and one of the seven basic quality tools. 

Elements that may be included in a flowchart are a sequence of actions, materials or services entering or leaving the process (inputs and outputs), decisions that must be made, people who become involved, time involved at each step, and/or process measurements. 

When to Use a Flowchart

  • To develop understanding of how a process is done
  • To study a process for improvement
  • To communicate to others how a process is done
  • When better communication is needed between people involved with the same process
  • To document a process
  • When planning a project

Flowchart Basic Procedure

Materials needed: Sticky notes or cards, a large piece of flipchart paper or newsprint, and marking pens.

  1. Define the process to be diagrammed. Write its title at the top of the work surface.
  2. Discuss and decide on the boundaries of your process: Where or when does the process start? Where or when does it end? Discuss and decide on the level of detail to be included in the diagram.
  3. Brainstorm the activities that take place. Write each on a card or sticky note.
  4. Arrange the activities in proper sequence.
  5. When all activities are included and everyone agrees that the sequence is correct, draw arrows to show the flow of the process.
  6. Review the flowchart with others involved in the process (workers, supervisors, suppliers, customers) to see if they agree that the process is drawn accurately.

Flowchart Considerations

  • Don’t worry about drawing the flowchart the "right way." Ultimately, the right way is the way that helps those involved understand the process.
  • Identify and involve in the flowcharting process all key people involved with the process. This includes suppliers, customers, and supervisors. Involve them in the actual flowcharting sessions by interviewing them before the sessions and/or by showing them the developing flowchart between work sessions and obtaining their feedback.
  • Do not assign a "technical expert" to draw the flowchart. People who actually perform the process should do it.

Flowchart Examples

1. High-Level Flowchart for an Order-Filling Process

What is a sequence of phases in which the output of each phase becomes the input for the next multiple choice question?


2. Detailed Flowchart

What is a sequence of phases in which the output of each phase becomes the input for the next multiple choice question?

Commonly Used Symbols in Detailed Flowcharts

What is a sequence of phases in which the output of each phase becomes the input for the next multiple choice question?
One step in the process. The step is written inside the box. Usually, only one arrow goes out of the box.

What is a sequence of phases in which the output of each phase becomes the input for the next multiple choice question?
Direction of flow from one step or decision to another.

What is a sequence of phases in which the output of each phase becomes the input for the next multiple choice question?
Decision based on a question. The question is written in the diamond. More than one arrow goes out of the diamond, each one showing the direction the process takes for a given answer to the question. (Often the answers are "yes" and "no.")

What is a sequence of phases in which the output of each phase becomes the input for the next multiple choice question?
Delay or wait

What is a sequence of phases in which the output of each phase becomes the input for the next multiple choice question?
Link to another page or another flowchart. The same symbol on the other page indicates that the flow continues there.

What is a sequence of phases in which the output of each phase becomes the input for the next multiple choice question?
Input or output

What is a sequence of phases in which the output of each phase becomes the input for the next multiple choice question?
Document

What is a sequence of phases in which the output of each phase becomes the input for the next multiple choice question?
Alternate symbols for start and end points

Develop a Flowchart

Use the flowchart template (Excel) to create a graphical representation of the steps in a process to better understand it and reveal opportunities for improvement.

Flowchart resources

You can also search articles, case studies, and publications for flowchart resources.

Books

Mapping Work Processes

The Quality Toolbox

Articles

Flowcharting With Excel (Quality Management Journal) A method is presented for teaching flowcharting using Microsoft Excel. While the focus is on the academic environment, the method is relevant for corporate trainers and novice users. Flowcharting is treated as a graphical language with its own vocabulary and syntax. Suggestions and precautions enhance the legibility and communicative power of the tool. In addition, extensions are offered to allow customization of individual process maps to specific user needs.

Back To Basics: Flowcharts For A Smooth Ride (Quality Progress) A flowchart might be one of the more basic of the seven tools of quality, but it is a very useful one. Flowcharts, also known as process maps, help paint a picture of a process to sort out steps and missteps.

Courses

ASQ Quality Tools - Flowchart

Adapted from The Quality Toolbox, Second Edition, ASQ Quality Press.

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    A compiler is system software that translates the source program written in a high-level language into a low-level language. The compilation process of source code is divided into several phases in order to ease the process of development and designing. The phases work in sequence as the output of the previous phase is utilized in the next phase. The various phases are as follows:

    Lexical Analysis Phase:  In this phase, input is the source program that is to be read from left to right and the output we get is a sequence of tokens that will be analyzed by the next Syntax Analysis phase. During scanning the source code, white space characters, comments, carriage return characters, preprocessor directives, macros, line feed characters, blank spaces, tabs, etc. are removed. The Lexical analyzer or Scanner also helps in error detection. To exemplify, if the source code contains invalid constants, incorrect spelling of keywords, etc. is taken care of by the lexical analysis phase. Regular expressions are used as a standard notation for specifying tokens of a programming language. 

    It is basically a sequence of characters that are treated as a unit as it cannot be further broken down. In programming languages like C language- keywords (int, char, float, const, goto, continue, etc.) identifiers (user-defined names), operators (+, -, *,  /), delimiters/punctuators like comma (,), semicolon(;), braces ({ }), etc. , strings can be considered as tokens. This phase recognizes three types of tokens: Terminal Symbols (TRM)- Keywords and Operators, Literals (LIT), and Identifiers (IDN).

    Let’s understand now how to calculate tokens in a source code (C language):

    Example 1:

    int a = 10; //Input Source code Tokens int (keyword), a(identifier), =(operator), 10(constant) and ;(punctuation-semicolon)

    Answer – Total number of tokens = 5

    Example 2:

    int main() { // printf() sends the string inside quotation to // the standard output (the display) printf("Welcome to GeeksforGeeks!"); return 0; } Tokens 'int', 'main', '(', ')', '{', 'printf', '(', ' "Welcome to GeeksforGeeks!" ', ')', ';', 'return', '0', ';', '}'

    Answer – Total number of tokens = 14

    Lexeme

    It is a sequence of characters in the source code that are matched by given predefined language rules for every lexeme to be specified as a valid token.

    Example:

    main is lexeme of type identifier(token) (,),{,} are lexemes of type punctuation(token)

    Pattern

    It specifies a set of rules that a scanner follows to create a token.

    Example of Programming Language (C, C++): 

    For a keyword to be identified as a valid token, the pattern is the sequence of characters that make the keyword.

    For identifier to be identified as a valid token, the pattern is the predefined rules that it must start with alphabet, followed by alphabet or a digit.

    Difference between Token, Lexeme, and Pattern

    CriteriaTokenLexemePattern
    DefinitionToken is basically a sequence of characters that are treated as a unit as it cannot be further broken down.It is a sequence of characters in the source code that are matched by given predefined language rules for every lexeme to be specified as a valid token. It specifies a set of rules that a scanner follows to create a token.
    Interpretation of type Keyword all the reserved keywords of that language(main, printf, etc.)int, gotoThe sequence of characters that make the keyword.
    Interpretation of type Identifiername of a variable, function, etcmain, ait must start with the alphabet, followed by the alphabet or a digit.
    Interpretation of type Operatorall the operators are considered tokens.+, =+, =
    Interpretation of type Punctuation each kind of punctuation is considered a token. e.g. semicolon, bracket, comma, etc. (, ), {, }(, ), {, }
    Interpretation of type Literal a grammar rule or boolean literal.“Welcome to GeeksforGeeks!”any string of characters (except ‘ ‘) between ” and “

    The output of Lexical Analysis Phase:

    The output of Lexical Analyzer serves as an input to Syntax Analyzer as a sequence of tokens and not the series of lexemes because during the syntax analysis phase individual unit is not vital but the category or class to which this lexeme belongs is considerable. 

    Example:

    z = x + y; This statement has the below form for syntax analyzer <id> = <id> + <id>; //<id>- identifier (token)

    The Lexical Analyzer not only provides a series of tokens but also creates a Symbol Table that consists of all the tokens present in the source code except Whitespaces and comments.