Sankey charts are a type of flowchart that are particularly useful for visualizing the flow of energy, materials, or information between different nodes in a system. They were originally developed for the study of biological systems, but have since been applied to a wide range of fields, including finance, logistics, and supply chain management.
One of the key features of Sankey charts is their ability to show the direction and magnitude of the flows between different nodes. This makes them particularly useful for identifying bottlenecks, determining the efficiency of a system, and visualizing the impact of changes to the system.
To create a Sankey chart, you will need to first identify the different nodes in your system and the flows between them. This can be done using a spreadsheet or other data visualization tool, such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. You will then need to import the data into a Sankey charting tool, such as XMPP, Cinderella, or Gephi.
Once the data is imported, you can use the charting tool to create the Sankey chart. This typically involves selecting the nodes and flows you want to include in the chart, and adjusting the various properties of the chart, such as the width and color of the arrows, the labels, and the ranges of the x and y axes.
There are many different applications for Sankey charts, including:
- Energy management: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of energy between different nodes in an energy system, such as the production of electricity from different sources, or the distribution of energy to different parts of a building.
- Supply chain management: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of materials between different nodes in a supply chain, such as the movement of raw materials from suppliers to manufacturers, or the distribution of finished products to customers.
- Financial analysis: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of money between different nodes in a financial system, such as the movement of capital from investors to corporations, or the distribution of income from employees to shareholders.
Overall, Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing complex systems and identifying areas for improvement. They are particularly useful for identifying bottlenecks and improving the efficiency of a system, as well as for identifying the impact of changes to the system.
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.