What does a flowchart answer?
What happens next. The checkout template is a flowchart: cart, shipping, a question about the address, payment, a placed order. The owner of each box is obvious enough that a lane would only add height.
Use a flowchart when a new person must follow the steps alone. The diamond is the part they cannot guess. Label both answers.
What does a process map answer?
Who moves the work. The swimlane refund template puts the request with the customer, the policy question with support, and the refund with finance. The sequence is still there. The columns are the point.
A process map that never crosses a column is a flowchart wearing empty headers. Delete the headers or move a step into the column that actually does it.
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Where do SIPOC and a value stream fit?
A SIPOC is the sketch before either picture: suppliers, inputs, the process name, outputs, customers. It is one row. It is not a substitute for the decisions inside the process.
A value stream adds time. Use it when the complaint is delay. The value-stream template writes a time on each step so a one-day ship is visible next to a two-minute order.
What are the steps?
- Name the argument. Sequence or ownership. You need the answer before you pick a template.
- Pick the picture. A flowchart for sequence. A swimlane for owners. A SIPOC if you only know the suppliers and the customer so far.
- Stop adding the other view. Do not draw lanes on a chart whose only question is yes or no. Do not hide the owner when the review is about who is late.