Sankey charts are a type of stacked bar chart that is used to represent the flow of materials, funds, or information between different entities or stages in a process. They are particularly useful for showing how material flows between different actors or areas of an organization.

At a glance, Sankey charts provide a clear visual representation of the flow of materials or information, making it easier to identify bottlenecks, areas of congestion, or opportunities for improvement. They also allow for easy comparison and analysis of different processes or systems.

In this guide, we’ll go over how to create a Sankey chart, as well as some common applications for this type of chart.

Creating a Sankey Chart

Sankey charts are a type of flowchart, which means that they are created using a special software tool rather than by hand. Some popular software applications that can be used to create Sankey charts include:

• Visio
• Gliffy
• Lucidchart

To create a Sankey chart in Visio, follow these steps:

1. Open Visio and create a new document.
2. Insert a “Sankey chart” from the Insert menu.
3. Click on the “Flow chart” button to create the Sankey chart.
4. Select the data you want to use in the chart from the Data range boxes.
5. Customize the chart settings to fit your needs.

To create a Sankey chart in Gliffy, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Gliffy account and create a new project.
2. Click on the “Sankey Chart” icon from the toolbar.
3. Select the data you want to use in the chart from the Range box.
4. Customize the chart settings to fit your needs.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Sankey charts are particularly useful for a variety of business and organizational applications, including:

1. Process flow analysis: Sankey charts are ideal for visualizing the flow of materials or information through a process or system. This can help identify bottlenecks, areas of congestion, or opportunities for improvement.
2. Supply chain management: Sankey charts can be used to track the movement of materials or information between suppliers and customers, highlighting any potential issues or inefficiencies in the supply chain.
3. Project management: Sankey charts can be used to track the flow of work or tasks through a project, identifying any potential bottlenecks or delays.
4. Financial analysis: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of funds or investments between different entities or accounts.
5. Quality control: Sankey charts can be used to analyze the flow of materials or information through a manufacturing process, identifying any potential issues or areas for improvement.

In summary, Sankey charts are a powerful visualization tool that can be applied to a wide variety of business and organizational needs. They are particularly useful for process flow analysis, supply chain management, project management, financial analysis, and quality control.

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