Unleashing the Flow: A Beginner’s Guide to Sankey Charts

Sankey charts are a type of flowchart that use directed lines to represent the flow of a process or system. They are often used to visualize the flow of materials, energy, or information through a system. Sankey charts are easy to create and can be used in a variety of applications, from process improvement to sustainability planning.

Sankey charts are especially useful for visualizing the flow of materials, as they allow you to see the inputs and outputs of a process and the energy or resources used or saved along the way. This can help identify opportunities for improvement or waste reduction.

The first step in creating a Sankey chart is to gather the relevant data. This may involve gathering information about the inputs and outputs of a process, as well as the resources used or saved along the way. This data may be organized in a spreadsheet, which can be imported into a flowcharting tool such as Microsoft Visio or Lucidchart.

Next, you will need to create the flowchart itself. This involves drawing directed lines between the different nodes in the chart, representing the flow of materials, energy, or information through the system. The direction of the lines indicates the direction of the flow, from inputs to outputs.

Once the chart is complete, you can use it to identify opportunities for improvement or waste reduction. For example, you might notice that a particular process is using a large amount of energy or resources, and consider ways to optimize it.

Overall, Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing the flow of materials, energy, or information through a system. They can be used in a variety of applications, from process improvement to sustainability planning. By gathering data and creating a flowchart, you can identify opportunities for improvement and waste reduction, and make informed decisions about how to optimize your system.

If you are new to Sankey charts, it may be helpful to start by using a flowcharting tool that has built-in support for Sankey chart creation. This can make it easier to get started with the process and ensure that your chart is accurate and effective.

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.