Swimlane Chart

A swimlane chart is a visual process mapping tool used to clarify roles, responsibilities, and interactions across different functions within a workflow. Each horizontal or vertical “lane” represents a distinct actor—such as a department, team, or system—while tasks are placed within these lanes in chronological order. This layout makes it easy to see who is responsible for each step and how work flows across organizational boundaries. Swimlane charts are particularly useful for identifying inefficiencies, such as delays, redundant steps, or communication breakdowns. By highlighting handoffs and dependencies, they help uncover process bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement. Commonly used in Lean Six Sigma, business process improvement, and project management, swimlane charts promote transparency, accountability, and cross-functional understanding. Their simplicity and clarity make them effective tools for both documenting current processes and designing future-state workflows. Ultimately, swimlane charts support streamlined operations, better collaboration, and more efficient, effective processes.