Sankey charts are a type of flowchart that are particularly useful for visualizing and optimizing processes. They have been widely used in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, logistics, and finance. In this article, we will guide you through the process of creating a Sankey chart and show you how to apply Sankey charts to optimize your workflow.

What are Sankey Charts?

Sankey charts are a type of flowchart that are used to visualize and optimize the flow of materials, information, or other resources through a process. They were originally developed by Carroll Lefferts Sankey in the 1960s as a way to visualize the flow of materials in a manufacturing process.

Sankey charts are similar to other types of flowcharts, such as Pareto charts, Gantt charts, and Kanban boards. However, they have some key differences that make them particularly useful for process optimization. For example, Sankey charts allow you to easily identify and remove bottlenecks in the process, as well as track the movement of resources between different stages of the process.

How to Create a Sankey Chart

Creating a Sankey chart is relatively simple. Here are the general steps:

1. Identify the process you want to visualize and identify the different stages or steps in the process.
2. Determine which type of flowchart you want to use. Sankey charts are best used for visualizing the flow of materials or other resources through a process, so they may not be the best choice for all processes.
3. Choose a software or tool to create the chart. There are several options available, including Microsoft Visio, Lucidchart, SmartDraw, and Gliffy.
4. Input the data for the chart. This may include the names of the steps in the process, the type of resource being flowed (e.g., materials, information, personnel), and the flow rates or quantities.
5. Customize the chart as desired, including adding shapes, labels, and custom line styles.
6. Review and refine the chart as needed to ensure it accurately represents the process.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Sankey charts are a versatile tool that can be used to visualize and optimize a wide variety of processes. Some common applications of Sankey charts include:

1. Manufacturing processes: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of materials through a manufacturing process, highlighting any bottlenecks or inefficiencies.
2. Logistics and transportation: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of goods or resources through a logistics or transportation process, allowing you to identify and address any delays or issues.
3. Financial processes: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of money or other financial resources through a process, helping you to identify areas where costs can be reduced or efficiency improved.
4. Service or support processes: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of support or services through a process, allowing you to identify and optimize support flows.

In conclusion, Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing and optimizing processes. They are easy to create and can be used in a wide variety of industries and processes. By using Sankey charts, you can gain greater visibility into your processes, identify and address bottlenecks or inefficiencies, and improve overall process performance.

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.