Streamlining Your Process with Sankey Charts: A Visual Approach to Flow Analysis

When it comes to optimizing processes and identifying opportunities for improvement, there’s no denying the power of visual aids. Sankey charts are a popular tool for flow analysis that help to clearly illustrate the movement of materials, information, or resources between different stages of a process.

What is a Sankey Chart?

A Sankey chart is a type of flowchart that uses shape and arrow symbols to represent the flow of material or information through a process. It named after the Irish engineer and statistician Charles Joseph Sankey, who developed the method in the early 20th century.

Sankey charts typically include a set of inputs at the top of the chart, a set of outputs at the bottom, and a set of intermediate stages in between. Arrows connect the inputs to the outputs, representing the flow of materials or information through the process. The chart can be customized to include additional information, such as the amount or type of each item flowing through the process.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Sankey charts have a wide range of applications, including:

1. Process flow analysis: Sankey charts are ideal for analyzing the flow of materials or information through a process, highlighting bottlenecks and areas for improvement.
2. Resource allocation: Sankey charts can be used to identify the allocation of resources within a process, such as staff or equipment, and to make recommendations for better utilization.
3. Quality control: Sankey charts can be used to track the flow of products through a quality control process, identifying areas where improvements can be made.
4. Cost analysis: Sankey charts can be used to analyze the cost of a process, including inputs and outputs, and to identify areas where costs can be reduced.
5. Environmental management: Sankey charts can be used to track the flow of materials or waste through an environmental management process, highlighting areas where waste reduction or recycling can be improved.

How to Create a Sankey Chart

Creating a Sankey chart is easy with the help of specialized software or online tools. Here are the basic steps:

1. Determine the inputs and outputs of the process you want to analyze.
2. Identify the stages in the process and assign them a shape or symbol.
3. Draw arrows between the inputs and outputs to represent the flow of materials or information through the process.
4. Add additional information, such as the amount or type of each item flowing through the process.
5. Customize the chart to include additional information or visual aids as needed.

Conclusion

Streamlining processes and identifying opportunities for improvement can be a complex task, but visual aids like Sankey charts can make it much easier. By using a Sankey chart to analyze the flow of materials or information through a process, organizations can identify areas where improvements can be made and maximize efficiency and productivity. Whether you are a process manager, quality control specialist, or environmental manager, a Sankey chart is a valuable tool for streamlining your process.

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.