A process flow diagram of a snow blower in a snow event.

Snowblower — a Process Flow Diagram

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Overview

A class assignment to design a process flow diagram (snowthrower) that provided an end user with:

Level 1: Must Haves

  • Steps (Solicit and collect, Respond and instruct)
  • Start and End (Work right to left or top to bottom, Accentuate the start and end points)
  • Paths
  • Name
  • Decision points

Level 2: Groupings (swimlanes) & Erroring

  • Distinguish steps
  • Step details
  • Path details
  • Swimlanes
  • Other groupings

Level 3: Further Context

  • Connections to other flows
  • User motivations
  • Screen identifiers
  • Remaining questions

Project:

I chose the process of preparing and using a snow thrower during a snow event. In order to get a better grasp as to how one would go about using a snowblower in a snow event, it just so happened that in a couple of days, Chicago was gearing up for some rather wicked weather.  I took this opportunity to document my own processes during this event as well as reference an owners manual for some of the details that one takes for grant it as they painfully rid their surroundings of snow.

Process:

After the snow event I sat down and wrote out my process in outline form.

  1. General Preparation
    1. Check Tire Pressure
      1. Check tire pressure - CORRECT or LOW
      2. Adjust to pressure listing on tire sidewall - inflate and recheck
    2. Check Track Tension
      1. Check tracking of unit and tension the tracks as needed
    3. Check Auger Gearcase Oil
      1. Check oil level in auger gearcase to specs - CORRECT or LOW
      2. Adjust by filling to spec limit
    4. Check Engine Crankcase Oil
      1. Check engine oil level - CORRECT or LOW
      2. Adjust by filling to spec limit
    5. Check Engine Fuel Tank
      1. Check fuel tank level - FULL - EMPTY
      2. Adjust by filling tank to FULL
  2. General Engine Preparation
    1. Ignition Switch - Key
      1. STOP - pulled out
      2. *RUN - pushed in
    2. Engine Shut-off Switch
      1. STOP - toggle up
      2. *RUN - toggle down
    3. Fuel Shut-off Valve
      1. CLOSED - used to store unit
      2. *OPEN - used to run unit
  3. Starting
    1. Place discharge chute straight ahead
    2. Clutch lever disengaged
    3. Traction drive lever disengaged
    4. Choke
      1. Engine cold
        • *START - chokes off air for start, then gradually open after start
      2. Engine warm
        • RUN - normal operation
    5. Primer Bulb
      1. Push primer bulb to add fuel ( 2-3Xs)
    6. Recoil Starter Handle
      1. Grasp starter handle
      2. Pull rope
      3. Rope rewinds
      4. Repeat until starts
    7. Electric Starter
      1. Connect extension cord to starter
      2. Connect extension cord to wall outlet
      3. Press starter button until engine starts
    8. Choke
      1. Adjust choke settings as needed
  4. Snow Removal
    1. Adjust discharge chute left or right
    2. Select Speed Control position (1-7)
    3. Select Speed control direction (FWD or REV)
    4. Engage impeller lever
    5. Engage traction drive lever
    6. Clear path
    7. Snow removed?
    8. Turn around repeat
  5. Complete
    1. Release traction drive lever
    2. Run impeller until snow is gone
    3. Release impeller lever
    4. Ignition switch to stop engine
    5. Remove Key
    6. Clean snow off blower

Design

Having to describe some action, I thought the experience might be easier to design the process flow diagram with the use of universal symbols found on that actual machine.  I either found the ISO symbols or had to create them using Adobe Illustrator.

Plug icon
Plug-in
The word
STOP Process
The word
RUN process
A shutoff valve inside a circle
Check Valve
A grease gun inside a circle.
Grease Part
A snow 90 degree shoot for throwing snow inside a circle.
Snow chute
An image of two arrows forming a circle.
Rotate
An image that looks like a wave inside a circle.
Check Auger
An image of four arrows pointing outward from a center.
Choose Direction
An image of a half circle with tick marks around the perimeter, with a needle pointing at about 80 percent.
Adjust Speed
An image of an engine with a lightening bolt in the center.
Check Engine
An image with two, verticle, parallel lines; with a diagnal line connecting the two lines.
Check Choke
An image with a hand inside a circle.
Check Manually
An image of a lighting bolt inside a circle.
Check Electrical
An image of an electrical cord plug inside a circle.
Check Chord
An image of an open wrench inside a circle.
Check Specs
An image of a flat tire with an exclamation point in the middle.
Check Tire Pressure
An image of a key inside a circle.
Check Key
An image of a gas station pump inside a circle.
Check Fuel
An image of a thermometer in two lines of water, inside a circle.
Check Tempurature
An image of an oil can inside a circle.
Check Oil

The final process took the outline and ISO images and I created the process flow diagram using all elements from Levels 1-3.  In addition, used the Axure RP Pro application to design and assemble the final diagram.  This final project may be viewed on my Axure share.

A visual process flow diagram created in Axure showing the process of using a snowblower in a snow event.
Figure 1. A process flow diagram of a snowblower in a snow event.