How do I make a process flow diagram?

List the start and end points of your process, the steps in between, and any decision points or loops. Paste that description into the Figviz prompt box, choose a style, and click Generate. The AI lays out the boxes, diamonds, and arrows for you. Refine the prompt to adjust any step and regenerate.

Is the process flow diagram generator free?

Yes. Every account starts with free credits you can use to generate process flow diagrams straight away. Purchasing any pay-as-you-go credit pack removes the watermark and unlocks higher export resolutions. Credits never expire.

What is the difference between a process flow diagram and a flowchart?

In everyday business and IT use the two terms mean the same thing. In engineering, "process flow diagram" (PFD) specifically refers to a diagram showing industrial equipment and stream connections, while a flowchart shows sequential logic steps. Figviz handles both: business flowcharts and engineering PFDs.

What symbols are used in a process flow diagram?

The main symbols are: rounded rectangles for the start and end terminators, rectangles for process steps, diamonds for decision points (Yes/No branches), and arrows to show flow direction. Engineering PFDs also use cylinders for vessels, parallelograms for data inputs and outputs, and specialized equipment icons.

Can I use the generated diagram in business or engineering documents?

Yes. You can export the diagram as a high-resolution PNG at up to 4K and drop it into Word documents, PowerPoint slides, PDF reports, or engineering deliverables. Diagrams generated on a paid credit account are licensed for your own business and professional use.

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Process Flow Diagram Generator Process Flow Diagrams

Describe any process and get a clean, labeled process flow diagram in seconds, with steps, decision diamonds, and directional arrows laid out for you. Manufacturing, business, software, chemical, and more.

Last updated: 2026-06-21

✓Steps and decision points✓Directional arrows and labels✓Engineering and business PFDs✓Print and slide ready

Process Flow Diagram Generator

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Process Flow Diagram Examples

Browse process flow diagrams made with Figviz, or generate your own above

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Manufacturing Process Flow

A step-by-step manufacturing PFD from raw material intake through quality control to finished goods dispatch.

manufacturingproductionquality control

Business Process Flow with Decision Points

A business approval workflow with branching decision points for manager and executive sign-off.

businessapprovalworkflow

Chemical / Industrial Process Flow (PFD)

An industrial PFD showing feed streams, reactor, heat exchanger, separator, and product output with labeled flow lines.

chemicalengineeringPFD

Software Development Process Flow

A software development lifecycle PFD covering requirements, design, development, testing, and deployment with a bug-fix loop.

softwareSDLCdevelopment

Order-to-Cash Process Flow

End-to-end order-to-cash PFD covering order entry, credit check, fulfillment, invoicing, and payment collection.

order-to-cashO2Cfinance

Simple Linear Process Flow

A clean five-step linear process flow with a start node, numbered rectangles, and an end node for onboarding or SOP documentation.

simplelinearSOP

What is a process flow diagram?

A process flow diagram (PFD) is a visual representation of the steps, decisions, and connections in a process, from a starting point to an end result. It uses standard symbols, rectangles for process steps, diamonds for decision points, and arrows for flow direction, to make the sequence of activities clear to anyone reading it. Process flow diagrams are used in manufacturing, business operations, software development, chemical engineering, and supply chain management to document procedures, spot bottlenecks, and communicate how work gets done. Figviz generates a labeled PFD from a plain description of your process, so you can visualize any workflow without drawing shapes by hand.

How to make a process flow diagram

Identify the start and end points of your process.

List every major step between start and end in order.

Mark any decision points where the flow can branch (Yes/No or multiple paths).

Note any loops, such as rework steps that cycle back to an earlier stage.

Describe all of the above in the prompt box and click Generate.

Review the diagram, refine the prompt if a step is missing or misplaced, and regenerate.

Common process flow diagram symbols

Oval or rounded rectangle: Start and End (terminator).

Rectangle: Process step or activity.

Diamond: Decision point with two or more branches (Yes/No, Pass/Fail).

Arrow: Direction of flow between steps.

Parallelogram: Input or output data (common in IT and engineering PFDs).

Circle: Connector, used to continue a flow across page breaks.

Cylinder: Database or stored data (common in software and systems diagrams).

Process flow diagram tips for business and engineering docs

Keep each box to one action or decision, and use consistent verb-noun phrasing such as "Review Invoice" rather than "Invoice is reviewed." Place decision diamonds so the default or most-common path flows straight down and the exception branches to the side, which keeps the diagram easy to scan. For engineering PFDs, label every stream with a flow direction arrow and identify each piece of equipment so operators can trace the path without guessing. Use the colorful style to distinguish departments or process phases at a glance, and export at 4K for crisp print quality in standard operating procedure documents.

Process flow diagram vs flowchart

The terms are often used interchangeably, but in engineering a process flow diagram (PFD) refers specifically to a diagram that shows the equipment, stream connections, and operating conditions of an industrial process, without the detail of a piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID). In business and IT contexts, a process flow diagram and a flowchart mean the same thing: a step-by-step visual of how work moves through a system. Figviz handles both uses, generating business-process flowcharts and engineering-style PFDs from a description of what you need.

Frequently asked questions

A process flow diagram generator is a tool that builds a labeled PFD from a description of your process. With Figviz you describe the steps, decision points, and flow direction, and the AI draws the diagram with the correct symbols and arrows in seconds, without needing drawing software or templates.

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