Flow line

A flow line, in various technical contexts, refers to a visual representation or physical path indicating the movement or direction of something. The specific meaning depends heavily on the field of application. Common interpretations include:

• Manufacturing and Production: In manufacturing, a flow line (also sometimes called a production line or assembly line) represents the sequence of operations required to produce a product. This includes the physical layout of workstations and equipment, as well as the logical steps involved in transforming raw materials into finished goods. Analysis of flow lines focuses on optimizing throughput, minimizing bottlenecks, and improving efficiency.

• Fluid Dynamics: In fluid dynamics, a flow line is an imaginary line that is everywhere tangent to the velocity vector of a fluid at a given instant. It visually represents the path a fluid particle is taking at that specific moment in time. When the flow is steady, flow lines coincide with streamlines and pathlines.

• Process Mapping: In business process modeling, a flow line (often an arrow) visually connects different activities or decision points in a process diagram, indicating the sequence of actions. It depicts the direction in which information or control flows.

• Data Flow Diagrams: In software engineering and systems analysis, a flow line represents the movement of data between processes, data stores, and external entities within a system. It illustrates the flow of information throughout the system.

• Network Diagrams: In network management and telecommunications, a flow line can represent the pathway of data or signals through a network. It may illustrate the physical cabling or the logical routing of information.