Streamlining Your Process: The Essential Guide to Sankey Charts

Sankey charts are a great way to visualize the flow of materials, energy, or information between different entities. They are particularly useful in identifying bottlenecks, improving efficiency, and optimizing resource allocation. In this guide, we will explore the fundamentals of Sankey chart creation, along with practical applications and tips for streamlining your process.

Table of Contents

1. What is a Sankey chart?
   • Definition
   • Characteristics
2. Understanding Sankey chart components
   • Inputs
   • Entities
   • Arrows
   • Tokens
3. Creating a Sankey chart
   • Setting up the Sankey chart template
   • Adding inputs
   • Adding entities
   • Arrows and tokens
   • Customizing the chart
4. Common Sankey chart applications
   • Energy and resource management
   • Supply chain optimization
   • Innovation research
   • Risk management
5. Best practices for Sankey chart creation
   • Data validation
   • Choosing appropriate colors
   • Adding labels and annotations
   • Collaborating with team members

6. Conclusion

7. What is a Sankey chart?

A Sankey chart is a flowchart that uses curved arrows to show the direction and quantity of materials or information being transferred between entities. It was invented by Swedish engineer Gunnar Sankey in the 1930s and has since become a popular tool for visualizing complex systems.

Some key characteristics of Sankey charts include:

• Curved arrows represent the flow of materials or information
• The chart shows the source of the material or information, the recipients, and the quantities involved
• Colors, labels, and annotations can be added to enhance clarity and understanding
• Sankey charts can be used to analyze operations, processes, or supply chains.

2. Understanding Sankey chart components

A Sankey chart consists of several components that work together to create a visual representation of the flow of materials, energy, or information. Here are some of the key components:

Inputs

Inputs represent the starting point of the flow, typically the source of the material or information. These inputs can be represented by an entity or a group of entities.

Entities

Entities represent the intermediate steps in the flow, where the material or information may be transformed or modified. These entities can also be grouped into input or output categories.

Arrows

Arrows represent the flow of materials or information from one entity to another, showing the direction and amount of each flow.

Tokens

Tokens are individual units of the material or information being transferred between entities, typically represented as small circles or rectangular boxes.

3. Creating a Sankey chart

Creating a Sankey chart is a straightforward process that involves adding inputs, entities, arrows, and tokens to the chart template. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a Sankey chart:

Step 1: Set up the Sankey chart template

Sankey chart templates are available for most flowcharting tools, such as Visio, Lucidchart, or Draw.io. Choose a suitable template and customize it by changing the colors, shapes, and other visual elements.

Step 2: Add inputs

Inputs represent the starting point of the flow and are typically represented by an entity or a group of entities. Add inputs to the chart by dragging and dropping them into the “Inputs” area of the template.

Step 3: Add entities

Entities represent the intermediate steps in the flow, where the material or information may be transformed or modified. Add entities to the chart by dragging and dropping them into the “Entities” area of the template.

Step 4: Add arrows

Arrows represent the flow of materials or information from one entity to another, showing the direction and amount of each flow.

SankeyMaster

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