Introduction

Sankey charts are a type of flow diagram that can be used to represent the flow of materials, information, or ideas between different nodes or entities. They are particularly useful for visualizing complex networks and identifying bottlenecks or areas for improvement in these networks. In this article, we will explore the basics of creating Sankey charts and discuss some common applications and use cases.

What is a Sankey Chart?

A Sankey chart is a type of flow chart that uses directed arrows to represent the flow of materials, information, or ideas between different nodes or entities. The chart is named after its creator, Carl Sankey, a statistician who developed the chart in the 1920s to visualize the flow of radioactive isotopes in the body.

The chart consists of a set of nodes, which represent the different entities in the flow, and directed arrows, which represent the flow of materials or information between these nodes. The arrows can point in either direction, depending on the direction in which the materials or information are flowing.

Sankey charts can be used to visualize a wide range of flows, including:

• Material flows, such as the flow of raw materials into a manufacturing process or the flow of finished goods out of a distribution center
• Information flows, such as the flow of data between different computer systems or the flow of ideas between different people in an organization
• Idea flows, such as the flow of new product ideas from customers to companies or the flow of suggestions from employees to management

How to Create a Sankey Chart

Creating a Sankey chart is relatively simple, and there are a variety of tools available that can help you create the chart. Here are the basic steps for creating a Sankey chart:

1. Determine the purpose and scope of the chart. Before you start creating the chart, it is important to have a clear idea of what you want to represent and the entities that will be included in the chart.
2. Identify the nodes and links. The next step is to identify the nodes and links that will be included in the chart. Nodes represent the entities in the flow, and links represent the flow of materials, information, or ideas between these nodes.
3. Draw the chart using a flowcharting tool. There are a variety of flowcharting tools available that can help you create a Sankey chart, including Microsoft Visio, Lucidchart, and Draw.io. These tools provide a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create the flowchart, and many tools also offer features such as shape libraries and pre-made templates to help you get started.
4. Customize the chart as needed. Once you have created the chart, you may need to customize it further to suit your needs. For example, you can add or remove nodes, links, or shapes, or you can adjust the layout of the chart to better reflect the flow of the materials, information, or ideas.

Applications and Use Cases

Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing complex networks and identifying areas for improvement. Some common applications and use cases for Sankey charts include:

• Supply chain management: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of materials and information through a supply chain, identifying areas where bottlenecks or inefficiencies may exist and suggesting possible improvements.
• Project management: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of tasks and resources through a project, identifying areas where delays or dependencies may exist and suggesting possible improvements.
• Marketing and sales: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of leads and sales through a marketing and sales process, identifying areas where conversion rates may be low or where the sales process may be too slow.
• Process improvement: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of materials or information through a process, identifying areas where bottlenecks or inefficiencies may exist and suggesting possible improvements.

Conclusion

Sankey charts

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