An event-driven process chain (EPC) is a type of flowchart used for business process modelling. EPCs can be used for configuring an enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation, and for business process improvement. Usage for control of work share with instances of autonomous workflows in workflow management is possible, but not yet implemented.

Here is a simple EPC diagram example that shows the use of annotation in the diagram.

EPC diagram, abbreviation for event-driven process chain diagram, is a flowchart based diagram that can be used for resource planning and identifying possible improvements of a business process. In this EPC diagram example, we use organization unit, control flow, process path, function and information resources.

EPC diagram, abbreviation for event-driven process chain diagram, is a flowchart based diagram that can be used for resource planning and identifying possible improvements of a business process. In this EPC diagram example, we use organization unit, control flow, function and information resources

Event-driven process chains allow for the representation of business processes of an organization. In doing so a concise and intuitively understandable visualization of the process is emphasized in particular. An event-driven process chain basically consists of process steps and events. Process steps represent work steps and events represent states or events within the process.

This is a EPC diagram example for online article purchasing.

The templates XOR-Splitter and XOR-Connector mark an exclusive case differentiation in the process. This means that the process steps behind a XOR-Splitter within the process chains are alternatives. In opposition to the OR-Splitter and OR-Connector, however, it is not possible that several of these options are executed. Thus, it is an exclusive or. The XOR-Connector is the opposite operation to the XOR-Splitter and joins the alternative chains again.

In this EPC diagram example an organization checks the availability of any article that has been ordered. Thereby the article can either be available or not available. If the article is not available it has to be produced. After taking any action the control flows can be synchronized and the article can be shipped

This is a EPC diagram example that shows the use of or-splitter and or-connector in EPC.

The templates OR-Splitter and OR-Connector mark a case differentiation within the process. This means that the process steps behind an OR-Splitter within the process chains are alternatives. It has to be said that at least one of the options has to be selected. It is also possible, however, that several of these options are executed.

The OR-Connector is the opposite operation of the OR-Splitter and joins the alternative chains again. In this example an organization has to react to an order. Thereby articles had been ordered, that are currently not available. The company has now the options to either produce new articles or purchasing articles from a third party supplier or performing both steps in order to be able to ship the order. After taking any action the control flows can be synchronized again and the order can be shipped.

The AND-Splitter and AND-Connector templates indicate a parallelization in the process. This means that the process steps behind an AND-Splitter within the process chains can be executed simultaneously and independently of each other. The AND-Connector is the opposite operation of the AND-Splitter and joins the parallel control flows again.

In this EPC diagram example, an event occurs that forces an organization to produce new articles. This means that material has to be purchased and a production plan has to be developed. Those process steps do not depend on each other and can be maintained at the same time. After those steps have been performed, both control flows will be synchronized again. In a well-structured process plan it has to be minded that only pairs of AND-Splitter and AND-Connector occur together.

This is a simple EPC diagram template.

An event-driven process chain (EPC) is a type of flowchart used for business process modelling. EPCs can be used for configuring an enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation, and for business process improvement. It is an ordered graph of events and functions that provides various connectors that allow alternative and parallel execution of processes. Furthermore it is specified by the usages of logical operators, such as OR, AND, and XOR. A major strength of EPC is claimed to be its simplicity and easy-to-understand notation. This makes EPC a widely acceptable technique to denote business processes. Here is a EPC template.