The FCP Excel FlowChart Template was originally designed to replace the necessity of having to use yet another application (usually a third) in a simulation project. In Manufacturing Simulation, there is usually a DataMatrix of process data that needs to be filled out that describes process CycleTime, Queueing disciplines (FIFO, LIFO, etc), speeds for forklifts and other transport equipment, conveyor speeds, batch sizes, routing and many other factors of every single task necessary to complete a process.By filling out a DataMatrix, a simulation can pull this data into a Simulation Application and if done well, provide the customer with a dynamic model (ie: a model that changes when a datamatrix is updated rather than recode the simulation). The application of choice in this scenario has traditionally been Microsoft's Excel SpreadSheet Application. But when it comes to flowcharting, there is an increasing need for customers to have this datamatrix linked to the flowchart as well.
For many engineers who need this "datamatrix" as well as a flowchart, the only alternative is to use ANOTHER application like Visio that allows an Engineer to enter data into the actual flowchart symbols themselves. The only problem here is that if you want a spreadsheet view of all data, you have to pull this data back out of Visio into your spreadsheet application (Excel).
The FCP Excel FlowChart Template allows the flowcharter to not only flowchart but to link that flowchart data to a spreadsheet layout of data to easily be exported to another application, like a simulation or database. Further, data updates to the datamatrix will update the flowchart symbols themselves.
I am actually simulation consultant familiar with several popular simulation programs and my speciality is not in Excel per-se. However, we at FCP have found this flowcharting application to be quite sufficient for most jobs. When the datamatrix AND flowchart of data is linked to the data that a simulation reads from, this greatly reduces the bulk of information needing updated during a project.
For those of you not familiar with this spreadsheet application at all, there is a video designed to get you off and running quickly. The process by which you complete your flowchart is narrow in scope and this application has not been tested for total "unbreakability". Therefore, you would be wise to change the attributes of this file to "Read-Only" so that you have an unblemished version by which to fall back on.
We hope you get some good use out of this simple flowcharting application and if you like it, we'd be happy to hear from you. Ready to get started? Follow this link to the QuickStart Tutorial! You can download our template here and you can view screenshots here.
