Description:

Modems Inc., an analog modem manufacturer, was a division within ConsumerCom,
a Fortune 500 consumer electronics manufacturer, until it was spun off to become
an independent entity.  Modems Inc. has been working to replace the many
information systems that were previously provided by ConsumerCom. You have been
assigned to a team responsible for creating an online ordering and distribution
system for the retailing of analog modems. The team is currently working to
respond to an RFP from the Modems Inc. executive team that outlines the
requirements and constraints for an online retail site. Your Technical Director
has asked you to create a flowchart of the ordering and distribution of modems
over the Internet.

You have been provided the following process outline from which to create
your flowcharts. These flowcharts are not only critical to the successful
approval of the proposal, but will remain as useful guidelines for future
programming and development efforts. For this exercise, You must prepare 3
process flowcharts to communicate the plan for Order Placement, Order
Fulfillment, and ERP System Flow.

Place The Order
The order plan begins with three requirements:
1) Orders must be taken through a web site,
2) Payments are made by a credit card. (Note: The web site software that captures the initial customer inputs,
requirements 1 and 2, is housed in a separate server, labeled a “web
server.”)
3) A customer can log onto the web site to see a order history.

If the customer is a returning visitor, their address information comes up on the
screen when they log onto the site. If they are a new
visitor, the system requests address information before allowing them access to the
product selection. Once logged onto the system, the customer can check inventory availability
before ordering. A “back-office” server, discussed below, houses detailed customer information, order history and
inventory availability data. A completed order consists of the customer’s modem selection(s), mailing address,
shipping preference and credit card information.

Following the customer’s review of address and credit card information, and
product selection he/she clicks the “purchase” button. Immediately, the web site
server software sends a message to the credit card company seeking authorization
to charge the credit card. The credit card company must authorize a customer’s
credit card before an order is “accepted” by Modems Inc. The credit card
company, typically, responds immediately regarding the status of the customer’s
credit card. If the credit card is authorized, the order is “accepted.” Note, by
law Modems Inc. charges the purchase to the credit card only when the product(s)
is shipped. If the customer’s credit card is not valid or fails for a credit
card violation, Modems Inc. will not accept the order.

Order Fulfillment
Once the order is
accepted, the system takes over and the order fulfillment begins. The web server
software electronically sends the order to the “back-office” server. A
back-office server holds the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. An ERP
system is a system that holds and integrates all aspects of an organization’s
business and application software, such as, the general ledger, accounts
receivable, sales order processing, inventory, purchasing and accounts payable
software. With customer information and inventory availability verified at the
time of purchase, the order fulfillment process now centers on getting the
product out-the-door.

Order fulfillment begins when the sales order processing (SOP) software
prints a picking ticket at the distribution center. The picking ticket tells the
worker the type of modem(s) ordered and has a peal-off mailing label. Additional
information on the ticket includes the order number, customer number, item
number, description, quantity ordered, quantity shipped and selling price of the
modem(s). Warehouse works pick and package the modem(s), peal the customer’s
address off the picking ticket and stick the mailing label on the package, and
place the completed order on the shipping skid. The customer’s order is now
complete and ready for shipping. The worker then signs the picking ticket and
sends this document to the accounting department.

ERP System Flow
The accounting department now completes the remaining
steps in the ordering process. The picking ticket serves as the source document
for recording the sale into the ERP system. When the accountant receives the
picking ticket, shipping charges are added to the order, the order is
transferred to an invoice and the invoice is posted into the accounting system.
This step triggers three events:

1) The posted invoice triggers an automatic notification to the credit card
company to charge the customer’s credit card and that payment is due to Modems
Inc., (The credit card company deposits funds into Modems Inc. bank account,
typically, in less than 48 hours.)
2) The inventory records are reduced for
the modem(s) shipped with this order, and
3) An invoice is e-mailed to the
customer.

Other Useful Material
Large listing of sample flowcharts:
http://www.smartdraw.com/resources/examples/biglist.htm

introductions to flowcharting:

http://www.nos.org/htm/basic2.htm

http://www.agilemodeling.com/artifacts/flowChart.htm

http://www.faculty.uaf.edu/ffjal/flowcharts/index.htm
You can install visio to flowcharting, however, for quick diagrams, it tends to be easier to use powerpoint.