Process mapping software 2

[Dot2Dot]

Can anyone recommend any user-friendly "process mapping" software? I've been tasked to map the manufacturing of numerous medical surgical products from the Raw materials stage through the Finished goods stage (ready to ship), leaving no details out. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[leanIE]

For a general flow diagram of your mfg. processes I don't see why you couldn't use the the flow diagram symbols in excel (or VisoCalc if you have it).

However, a more detailed process flow diagram may require a to-scale layout of facility, equipment and machinery foot prints. IMO AutoCAD LT is the easiest way to communicate the relation of machinery, operators, material flow, etc. in 2D.

Depending on the level of detail you're trying to achieve (you said "leaving no details out&quotthere are 'virtual factory' type simulators that can recreate you operations in 3D....I have a feeling this isn't what you're trying to accomplish, but I thought you might want to know that you can get as detailed as your resources will allow. Often Managers will ask for things w/o knowing what they really want...and many times it's because they've been 'spurred ' from up top...If I were you I'd ask my boss exactly what he expects me to deliver...and exactly who the audience will be for the deliverables.

 

[griffengm]

Dot2Dot,
Two products that I've used for this are RFFlow, originally developed for electronics work, and MS Project. Of the two, I like Project better since it allows me to create a list of assets/resources and assign times to various operations. It will generate a critical path in the pert chart. I believe it also allows you to enter some information as to mean/max/min times(been a while since I used it).
RFF simply creates a flow chart that is a good visual but not much help for defining time parameters.

Hope this helps.

Griffy

 

[ruble3]

I did Process flow maps for 3 departments at our plant- I looked at Autocad, Allclear & Smartdraw ; ended up using the flowcharting symbols in Excel

 

[studnt]

may it be value stream mapping or process mapping, the best way i would recommend will be the use of paper and pencil. a process map or a value stream map requires continuous updation of changes due to kaizen activity happening all the year round. there isnt a neccessity to record it as a clean document when u have already a work instruction updated for iso purposes. moreover u dont have to record in pen and paper and then sit back in office to use a software to reproduce it, only for the sake of neatness. are we not wasting our time while implementing lean that asks for waste elimination??

 

[shayne31]

Another excellent program to use for flow application is MS Visio. It has flow chart, block diagram, org. chart and office layout capabilities. Similar to Project, it also makes concession for project planning e.g. Gantt charts and manhour cost estimates.

 

[matt007]

Dot,
Several years ago the company that I worked for was looking into this type of process planning software, but I changed jobs before we implemented the package. Recently, I've been asked to look into this type of software again and am trying to relocate the company originally being reviewed to no avail. I'm thinking it may have been BEST, but in looking at their site, it appears that they've added a broader range of accounting tools, and I was having trouble locating the process tools. Please post if you find anything of interest.