This processing may be handled by a computer or by humans depending on the capability of the data processor. If the computer or team is incapable of processing the data to become information within the time available then we rely on our intuition or tacit knowledge to make decisions. You know that we also have to be careful about seductive information that looks interesting and supports our point of view but is based on shaky foundations. By working systematically, we watch for the results of our decisions to see how much they deviate from the planned effect and then make adjustments to the plan or decision accordingly. This is another example how the PDCA cycle can work although its inventor would not have encouraged much guesswork.
Data streams flow to and from points at which the process is being controlled.
This data may be sent to the process control points from one or more databases. This flow of data also works in reverse to gather data from the control points for processing into information so it can be used at control panels. Most of this data leads to explicit knowledge for further processing done mainly by humans in making intelligent decisions such as delivery promises. This is not the whole story for enabling the reader to visualize how their system can be streamlined to improve communications and decision making. Clearly email can be an important medium for transmitting explicit information but we often need to see the faces and bodies of each other to convey tacit information.