This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the ConceptDraw site you are agreeing to our Use of Site Cookies.

Swim Lane Diagrams

Swim Lane diagrams are the variety of process flow diagrams and are based on the IDEF3 standard. They were developed by Lynn Shostack for usage in projecting. With their help organization diagrams are combined with process flow, as they visually display an object of the production system which is charged with given concrete processes in general flow of processes of the production system.

Swim Lane Flowchart Symbols

Use the set of special professionally developed swim lane flowchart symbols - single, multiple, vertical and horizontal lanes from the Swimlanes and Swimlanes BPMN 1.2 libraries from the Business Process Diagram solution, the Swim Lanes library from the Business Process Mapping solution as the perfect basis for your Swim Lane Flowcharts of processes, algorithms and procedures.

Business Process Elements: Swimlanes

ConceptDraw has 142 vector stencils in the 8 libraries that helps you to start using software for designing own Business Process Diagrams. Use Swimlanes library with 20 objects from BPMN.
This cross-functional flowchart sample represents the payroll process mapping.
"Business process mapping refers to activities involved in defining what a business entity does, who is responsible, to what standard a business process should be completed, and how the success of a business process can be determined.
The main purpose behind business process mapping is to assist organizations in becoming more efficient. A clear and detailed business process map or diagram allows outside firms to come in and look at whether or not improvements can be made to the current process.
Business process mapping takes a specific objective and helps to measure and compare that objective alongside the entire organization's objectives to make sure that all processes are aligned with the company's values and capabilities.
ISO 9001 requires a business entity to follow a process approach when managing its business, and to this end creating business process maps will assist. The entity can then work towards ensuring its processes are effective (the right process is followed the first time), and efficient (continually improved to ensure processes use the smallest amount of resources)." [Business process mapping. Wikipedia]
The business process map example "Swim lane diagram - Payroll process mapping" was drawn using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the Cross-Functional Flowcharts solution from the Business Processes area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
Cross-functional flowchart
Cross-functional flowchart, terminator, swim lanes, vertical swimlanes, process, decision,
The vector stencils library "Business process BPMN 1.2 (Rapid Draw)" contains 12 business process symbols: objects, roles swimlanes, task icons.
Use these shapes for drawing business process diagrams (BPMN1.2) in the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the Business Process Diagram solution from the Business Processes area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
www.conceptdraw.com/ solution-park/ business-process-diagram
Event
Event, event,
Task
Task, task,
Decision
Decision, decision,
Swimlane Vertical
Swimlane Vertical, swimlane, vertical,
Swimlane Horizontal
Swimlane Horizontal, swimlane, horizontal,
Gateway
Gateway, gateway,
Boundary
Boundary, boundary,
Document
Document, document,
Urgent
Urgent, urgent,
Order
Order, order,
E-mail
E-mail, e-mail, email,
Packaging
Packaging, packaging,
The vector stencils library "Swimlanes BPMN 1.2" contains 8 swimlane shapes.
Use it for drawing business process diagrams (BPMN 1.2) in the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the Business Process Diagram solution from the Business Processes area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
www.conceptdraw.com/ solution-park/ business-process-diagram
Horizontal single lane
Horizontal single lane, horizontal lane,
Horizontal pool
Horizontal pool, horizontal pool,
Horizontal lanes
Horizontal lanes, horizontal lanes,
Horizontal pool
Horizontal pool, horizontal pool,
Vertical single lane
Vertical single lane, vertical lane,
Vertical pool
Vertical pool, vertical pool,
Vertical lanes
Vertical lanes, vertical lanes,
Vertical pool
Vertical pool, vertical pool,

Diagramming Software for Design Business Process Diagrams

Swimlanes are a visual mechanism of organizing and categorizing activities, in BPMN consist of two types: Pool, Lane. Use ConceptDraw Swimlanes library with 20 objects from BPMN.
This cross-functional flowchart sample shows the credit approval process.
"Credit (from Latin credo translation. "I believe" ) is the trust which allows one party to provide resources to another party where that second party does not reimburse the first party immediately (thereby generating a debt), but instead arranges either to repay or return those resources (or other materials of equal value) at a later date. The resources provided may be financial (e.g. granting a loan), or they may consist of goods or services (e.g. consumer credit). Credit encompasses any form of deferred payment. Credit is extended by a creditor, also known as a lender, to a debtor, also known as a borrower." [Credit (finance). Wikipedia]
The swim lane diagram example "Process flow - Credit approval" was created using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the Process Flowcharts solution from the Business Processes area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
Swim lane diagram
Swim lane diagram, swim lanes, vertical swimlanes, process, document, decision,

UML Activity Diagram. Design Elements

UML Activity Diagram illustrate the business and operational step-by-step workflow of components in a system and shows the overall flow of control.
"A swim lane (or swimlane) is a visual element used in process flow diagrams, or flowcharts, that visually distinguishes responsibilities for sub-processes of a business process. Swim lanes may be arranged either horizontally or vertically. In the accompanying example, the swimlanes are named Customer, Sales, Contracts, Legal, and Fulfillment, and are arranged vertically. ...
When used to diagram a business process that involves more than one department, swimlanes often serve to clarify not only the steps and who is responsible for each one, but also how delays, mistakes or cheating are most likely to occur.
Many process modeling methodologies utilize the concept of swimlanes, as a mechanism to organize activities into separate visual categories in order to illustrate different functional capabilities or responsibilities (organisational roles). Swimlanes are used in Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) and Unified Modeling Language activity diagram modeling methodologies." [Swim lane. Wikipedia]
The template "UML activity diagram (swimlanes)" for the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software is included in the Rapid UML solution from the Software Development area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
www.conceptdraw.com/ solution-park/ software-uml
UML activity diagram (swimlanes)
UML activity diagram (swimlanes),  UML activity diagram symbols, swimlanes, note, merge, initial, final, decision, action
The vector stencils library "Business process BPMN 1.2 (Rapid Draw)" contains 12 symbols of objects, roles swimlanes, and task icons for creating the business process diagrams using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software.
"BPMN models consist of simple diagrams constructed from a limited set of graphical elements. For both business users and developers, they simplify understanding business activities' flow and process. BPMN's four basic element categories are:
(1) Flow objects.
Events, activities, gateways.
(2) Connecting objects.
Sequence flow, message flow, association
(3) Swim lanes.
Pool, lane.
(4) Artifacts.
Data object, group, annotation.
These four categories enable creation of simple business process diagrams (BPDs). BPDs also permit making new types of flow object or artifact, to make the diagram more understandable. ...
Task.
A task represents a single unit of work that is not or cannot be broken down to a further level of business process detail without diagramming the steps in a procedure (which is not the purpose of BPMN)." [Business Process Model and Notation. Wikipedia]
The shapes example "Design elements - Business process BPMN 1.2 (Rapid Draw)" is included in the Business Process Diagram solution from the Business Processes area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
BPMN 1.2 symbols
BPMN 1.2 symbols, urgent, task, swimlane vertical, swimlane horizontal, packaging, order, gateway, event, e-mail, email, document, decision, boundary,

Swim Lanes Flowchart. Flowchart Examples

This sample was created in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software using the Cross-Functional Flowcharts solution from the Business Processes area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
This sample shows the Swim Lanes Flowchart of Identification and logging.
Create Swim Lanes Flowchart
Create Swim Lanes Flowchart
"A swim lane (or swimlane) is a visual element used in process flow diagrams, or flowcharts, that visually distinguishes responsibilities for sub-processes of a business process. Swim lanes may be arranged either horizontally or vertically. In the accompanying example, the swimlanes are named Customer, Sales, Contracts, Legal, and Fulfillment, and are arranged vertically. ...
When used to diagram a business process that involves more than one department, swimlanes often serve to clarify not only the steps and who is responsible for each one, but also how delays, mistakes or cheating are most likely to occur.
Many process modeling methodologies utilize the concept of swimlanes, as a mechanism to organize activities into separate visual categories in order to illustrate different functional capabilities or responsibilities (organisational roles). Swimlanes are used in Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) and Unified Modeling Language activity diagram modeling methodologies." [Swim lane. Wikipedia]
The template "Business process swim lane diagram BPMN 1.2" for the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software is included in the Business Process Diagram solution from the Business Processes area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
Swim lane diagram BPMN 1.2 template
Swim lane diagram BPMN 1.2 template, task, start, horizontal lane, lane, end,
The vector stencils library "Swimlanes BPMN 1.2" contains 8 swimlane shapes.
Use it for drawing business process diagrams (BPMN 1.2) in the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the Business Process Diagram solution from the Business Processes area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
www.conceptdraw.com/ solution-park/ business-process-diagram
Horizontal single lane
Horizontal single lane, horizontal lane,
Horizontal pool
Horizontal pool, horizontal pool,
Horizontal lanes
Horizontal lanes, horizontal lanes,
Horizontal pool
Horizontal pool, horizontal pool,
Vertical single lane
Vertical single lane, vertical lane,
Vertical pool
Vertical pool, vertical pool,
Vertical lanes
Vertical lanes, vertical lanes,
Vertical pool
Vertical pool, vertical pool,

cross-functional flowchart template, flowchart, example business process flow Cross-Functional Flowcharts

cross-functional flowchart template, flowchart, example business process flow
Cross-functional flowcharts are powerful and useful tool for visualizing and analyzing complex business processes which requires involvement of multiple people, teams or even departments. They let clearly represent a sequence of the process steps, the order of operations, relationships between processes and responsible functional units (such as departments or positions).