Unleashing the Flow: Mastering Sankey Chart Visualizations for Process Improvement

Sankey charts are a powerful visualization tool that can help you better understand and analyze complex processes. They are particularly useful for process improvement, as they provide a clear and intuitive way to visualize the flow of materials, resources, and information through a process. In this article, we will explore the basics of Sankey chart creation and some of the ways in which they can be used to improve business processes.

What is a Sankey Chart?

A Sankey chart is a flowchart that uses triangles to represent the flow of materials, resources, or information through a process. Each triangle represents a pipe or channel that carries a specific item or entity from one point in the process to another. The size and shape of the triangles can be adjusted to show the flow volume or weight of the item being transported.

Sankey charts are particularly useful for visualizing the flow of materials or resources through a process, as they can help identify bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement. They are also useful for identifying the impact of changes to the process on the flow of materials or resources.

Creating a Sankey Chart

There are several software tools available for creating Sankey charts, including Microsoft Visio, Lucidchart, and SmartDraw. These tools provide a range of templates and shapes to help you create your Sankey chart, including pipes, pumps, and nodes.

To create a Sankey chart, first gather the necessary data and organize it in a spreadsheet or database. Then, use the template or shape library in your chosen software tool to create the chart. You can connect the nodes and pipes to create the flow of materials or resources through the process.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Sankey charts are a valuable tool for process improvement, as they provide a clear and intuitive way to visualize the flow of materials and resources through a process. They can help identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.

One common use of Sankey charts is in process mapping. Process mapping involves mapping out the steps involved in a process and identifying opportunities for improvement. Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of materials or resources through the process and identify areas where improvements can be made.

Another application of Sankey charts is in demand planning. Demand planning involves forecasting future demand for a product or service and creating plans to meet that demand. Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of materials or resources through the order-to-cash cycle and identify potential bottlenecks or areas where improvements can be made.

Sankey charts are a powerful visualization tool that can help you better understand and analyze complex processes. They are particularly useful for process improvement, as they provide a clear and intuitive way to visualize the flow of materials, resources, and information through a process. Whether you are creating a Sankey chart for process mapping or demand planning, or simply looking for a better way to visualize your process, Sankey charts are a valuable tool that can help you gain insights and drive improvements.

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.