Introduction to Sankey Chart: What is it?
Sankey charts, also known as force-directed diagrams, are a type of flow diagram that uses a triangular network to represent a system’s relationships. They are often used to visualize the flow of materials, information, and other resources within a process, such as in the supply chain.
How to Create a Sankey Chart: A Step-by-Step Guide
Creating a sankey chart is a relatively straightforward process, even if you have never created one before. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:
1. Determine the relationships: Determine the relationships between the different elements of your system, such as the different parts of a process or the different sources and destinations of a flow.
2. Choose the size of the nodes: Choose the size of the nodes (or the elements of your system that you want to represent) that you want to include in the chart. You can choose to use any size you like, but note that larger nodes may be more difficult to read.
3. Determine the scale: Determine the scale of your chart, this will help you choose the appropriate size for each node and edge.
4. Create the nodes: Create the nodes of your chart by choosing the size and shape that best represent your nodes. This will help you ensure that your chart looks clean and professional.
5. Connect the nodes: Connect the node by drawing lines between them. You can use different colors to differentiate between the different elements, such as red for sources, blue for destinations, and yellow for information).
Once you have created your sankey chart, you can start to interpret it. Here are some key things to look for:
– The sources and destinations: These are the key elements of your system, and will be the focus of your chart.
– The information: This is the flow of information within your system. The color, size, and layout of this flow will depend on the specifics of your system.
– The movement between different elements: These are the relationships between the different elements. They can help you understand the flow of information within your system, and the way that different elements are interconnected.
Using Sankey Chart: Examples of Applications
Sankey charts are a versatile tool that can be used to visualize a wide range of processes, whether it be supply chain, manufacturing, transportation, or any other process that involves the flow of resources.
Here are some examples of how sankey charts can be used:
- Supply Chain: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods throughout a supply chain.
- Manufacturing: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of information, materials, and resources throughout a manufacturing process, from raw materials to finished product.
- Transportation: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of goods throughout a transportation system, from a source location to a destination location.
- Education: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of resources throughout the education process, from classroom activities to assessments to assignments.
Conclusion:
Sankey charts are a powerful tool that can help you better understand the flow of resources within your system. With their unique visual representation, sankey charts can help you to identify key elements and relationships, track the flow of resources, and better understand the overall process.
By choosing the appropriate size and layout, and drawing lines using different colors, you can create a sankey chart that accurately represents your system. With this tool in hand, you can make data-driven decisions, and improve the efficiency of your processes.
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