Can all process flows be drawn in Microsoft Office Visio ?

[BurattoN]

Hi,

By optimizing the material/process flow of one part of my factory, I'm looking for some special flow chart drawing softwares.
With its process flow charts ability, Visio sounds interesting. But it seems that only chemical or electrical/electronical engineers can enjoy it: there is no other instrument or devices connectors than pipings, electrical systems.... There's absolutely nothing for mechanical/thermal processes (like furnaces/ovens, welding, binding machines,...).

Do I misunderstand Visio's abilities, or is Visio really only chemical/electrical-oriented ?

Thanks for your advices.
Best regards.

 

[swertel]

Visio is for office flow charts, standard operating procedures, and other flows. Visio Technical Editions may have the extra blocks you are after.

In short, Visio is not for chemical/electrical-oriented, it is for general office use. They've added some technical blogs throughout the versions in order to handle database admin, coding, office floor layouts, etc. but it is still not really an engineering tool.

--Scott

For some pleasure reading, try FAQ731-376

 

[FrancisL]

BurattoN
ControlDraw may be just what you want -

http://www.controldraw.com

Francis

 

[johnwm]

Visio is fully customisable and all the stencils can be modified to suit your requirements. You can also create new stencils from scratch.

The standard version already contains stencils for business process flow charts, database, electrical engineering, electronic circuits, mechanical eng drawings and process engineering besides all the standard business stuff.

It also has an easily programmable interface and database connectivity.

Good Luck
johnwm
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[BurattoN]

Hi!

Thanks for your answers.

swertel:
Visio Technical Edition is a version different from Visio Pro or is it just an add-on of this software ?

FrancisL: I check your Website and the solutions you offer, but I'm afraid to be not so qualified to use the software myself. It seems very powerful, but I'm rather looking for a quite "simpler" software.

Nicolas.

 

[dbaird]

Why not use AutoCad? It comes with the following "standard libary symbols":

1 House Designer
2 Kitchens
3 Fasteners - US
4 Hydraulic - Pneumatic
5 Basic Electronics
6 Home - Space Planner
7 Landscaping
8 HVAC - Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning
9 Plant Process

And in addition to that there is online symbol libaries:

http://cben.net/

http://www.cadresource.com/library/symbols.html

http://www.enjoy.ne.jp/~katsurar/ka2/ka2.htm

David Baird

Sr Controls Designer
EET degree.
Journeyman Electrician.

 

[swertel]

Sorry, technical edition doesn't seem to be an option for the 2003 version. The last I shopped for Visio was 2000. I see that 2007 is due out soon.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/visio/prodinfo/editions.mspx

--Scott

For some pleasure reading, try FAQ731-376

 

[svanels]

During the years I have made a hybrid version of Visio, just by saving the stencils of every version I had and cary them over to the next one.
It is a great tool for ilustration and drawing. Just picked out a bearing in visio and put it in an Autocad drawing, I was too lazy to draw the nut myself.
My favourite in Visio: Make a report in word, put in some pictures, get a big red arrow in Visio with the words problem is here embedded.
I found that a lot of pictures/diagrams can do wonders for the appearance of a technical document or presentation.

Visio Pro is geared towards IT personnel
Visio Technical was geared to Technical Persons
Visio standard for the normal stuff (just like harvard graphics in the old days)
It is all about creativity

 

[meintsi]

We just upgraded from Visio Technical (2001 I think) to 2003 Professional.

Every stencil from the older tecnical version came included with 2003 Pro.



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