What is a common tool used for process mapping in quality assurance?

A flowchart is a common tool used for process mapping in quality assurance because it visually represents the steps and decisions involved in a process. This graphical representation allows teams to clearly outline and understand the workflow, identify areas for improvement, and ensure that all necessary steps are included to achieve a consistent quality outcome.

Using flowcharts in quality assurance processes facilitates better communication among team members, simplifies the documentation of processes, and makes it easier to analyze workflows for inefficiencies or bottlenecks. They are particularly useful in training, as new team members can quickly grasp complex processes through visual cues.

In contrast, budget reports, balance sheets, and patient testimonials serve different purposes. Budget reports focus on financial planning and tracking costs, balance sheets provide a snapshot of an organization's financial health, and patient testimonials gather subjective feedback on services. None of these tools are designed for mapping processes or analyzing workflows within a quality assurance framework.