Streamlining Your Process: A Guide to Using Sankey Charts for Visualization and Analysis
The world today is filled with complex systems and processes, making it difficult for individuals to understand and navigate these systems efficiently. Sankey charts, a type of flowchart, can be a valuable tool for visualizing and analyzing these systems. By showing the flow of materials, services, or information, Sankey charts allow users to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement. In this article, we will explore the basics of Sankey chart creation and its applications in various industries.
What is a Sankey Chart?
A Sankey chart is a flowchart that is used to represent the flow of materials, services, or information from one process to another. The chart is named after its creator, Gerardus Sankey, an inventory specialist who developed the chart in the early 20th century to help organizations identify waste and inefficiencies in their operations.
The chart has two main components: a solid line that represents the flow of materials, services, or information, and a flow map that displays the starting and ending points of the flow. The solid line is divided into several branches, each representing the input, conversion, and output of a particular process. The flow map shows the flow of materials or information between the different processes, with the input on the left and the output on the right.
Sankey Chart Creation
Sankey charts can be created using various software tools. Some popular tools are Microsoft Visio, Lucidchart, and SmartDraw. These tools allow users to create Sankey charts with ease, as they provide a visual workspace that can be customized to represent the desired flow. Users can add or remove branches, modify the flow map, and change the chart’s appearance to match their needs.
Sankey Chart Applications
Sankey charts have a wide range of applications in various industries. Here are a few examples:
- Manufacturing Industry
Sankey charts can be used to represent the flow of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods in manufacturing processes. They can help manufacturers identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and areas for improvement in their operations. By using Sankey charts, manufacturers can prioritize investments and improve their overall efficiency.
- Service Industry
Sankey charts can also be used in the service industry, such as healthcare and finance. They can help service providers identify the flow of materials or information between different processes, such as patient intake, diagnosis, and treatment, or loan application, underwriting, and disbursement. Service providers can use Sankey charts to identify areas for standardization, automation, or outsourcing to improve their overall performance.
- Supply Chain Management
Sankey charts can be used to represent the flow of materials, services, or information between different components of a supply chain. They can help supply chain managers identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, or areas for improvement in their operations. By using Sankey charts, managers can develop strategies to improve the performance of their supply chains and increase overall efficiency.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sankey charts are a valuable tool for visualizing and analyzing complex systems and processes. By showing the flow of materials, services, or information, Sankey charts allow users to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement. The chart’s simplicity and ease of use make it a popular choice for process mapping and analysis in various industries.
SankeyMaster
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