Streamlining Processes with Sankey Charts: A Visual Guide to Understanding Flows and Optimizing Efficiency

Processes are critical to the success of any organization, and streamlining them can often lead to increased efficiency and cost savings. One tool that can help identify and improve process flows is the Sankey chart.

What is a Sankey Chart?

Sankey charts are a type of flowchart that represent the flow of materials or information through a process. They are used to visualize the movement of goods, services, or information between different nodes or stages in a process.

A Sankey chart is named after the Dutch chemist and academic Jan van der Does, who first developed the concept in the early 20th century. It is a highly effective way to identify and reduce bottlenecks in a process, as well as to identify opportunities for process improvement.

Creating a Sankey Chart

Before creating a Sankey chart, it is important to gather data and information about the process you want to visualize. This may include information about the inputs and outputs of each stage, the time required for each stage, and any bottlenecks or constraints that may impact the flow of materials or information.

Once you have collected this information, you can begin to create the chart using specialized software or online tools. There are several different types of software available for creating Sankey charts, including Visio, Excel, and online tools like SankeyFlow.

Using a Sankey Chart

Once a Sankey chart has been created, it can be used to understand the flow of materials or information through the process. This can help identify opportunities for improvement and inform decision-making about process optimization.

One of the key benefits of using a Sankey chart is that it allows you to easily see the relationships between different stages in a process and the flow of materials or information between them. This can help identify bottlenecks or other issues that may be impacting the efficiency of the process.

Additionally, a Sankey chart can be used to compare different processes or to compare a company’s current process to an ideal or optimized process. This can help identify areas where improvements can be made and foster a culture of process improvement within the organization.

Conclusion

Processes are critical to the success of any organization, and streamlining them can often lead to increased efficiency and cost savings. A Sankey chart is a powerful tool for visualizing and understanding process flows, and can be used to identify and improve bottlenecks, optimize efficiency, and inform decision-making about process improvement.

SankeyMaster

SankeyMaster is your go-to tool for creating complex Sankey charts . Easily enter data and create Sankey charts that accurately reveal intricate data relationships.