Introduction:
Sankey charts are a type of flowchart that are used to visualize the flow of materials, energy, or information between different systems or processes. They were initially developed by Charles Sankey in the early 20th century as a way to study the flow of goods and services in economic systems. Today, Sankey charts are used in a variety of fields, including engineering, chemistry, and finance.
Sankey chart creation:
To create a Sankey chart, you will need a few pieces of information. First, you need to know the starting and ending points of the flow. Next, you need to know the amount of flow between each pair of nodes. You also need to know the direction of the flow, as well as any restrictions or limitations on the flow.
Once you have this information, you can use a software program, such as Microsoft Visio or Lucidchart, to create a Sankey chart. These programs allow you to input the starting and ending points, as well as the flow and direction of the flow, and will generate a chart for you.
Applications:
Sankey charts are useful in a variety of contexts, as they allow you to easily see the flow of materials, energy, or information between different systems or processes. They can be used to:
- Identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in a process: By looking at the flow of materials, energy, or information, you can see where things get stuck or are wasted, and make improvements to the process.
- Evaluate the impact of changes on a process: By changing the starting or ending points of the flow, or adding new nodes, you can see how the flow of materials, energy, or information changes in response.
- Analyze the environmental impact of a process: By adding a “sink” node for waste or by adding a “source” node for renewable energy, you can see the impact of a process on the environment.
- Evaluate the efficiency of a supply chain: By visualizing the flow of materials, energy, or information between suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers, you can see how well a supply chain is functioning.
- Design new systems or processes: By looking at existing flows, you can gain insight into the needs of the system or process being designed, and make improvements to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
Conclusion:
Sankey charts are a powerful visualization tool that can help you understand the flow of materials, energy, or information between different systems or processes. By creating a Sankey chart, you can easily see the bottlenecks and inefficiencies in a process, evaluate the impact of changes on a process, analyze the environmental impact of a process, evaluate the efficiency of a supply chain, and design new systems or processes that are more efficient and effective. So, let’s use the power of Sankey charts for a better understanding and improvement of our processes.
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.