Unleashing the Power of Process: A Guide to Creating Sankey Charts

Sankey charts are a powerful graphical representation of the flow of materials, energy, or information through a system. They are ideal for visualizing the interconnections and dependencies within complex systems and identifying opportunities for optimization. In this guide, we will explore the process of creating Sankey charts and the wide range of applications they can be used for.

Table of Contents

What is a Sankey Chart?
Creating a Sankey Chart
Applications of Sankey Charts
What is a Sankey Chart?

A Sankey chart, also known as a flowchart, is a type of diagram used to represent the flow of materials, energy, or information through a system. It was invented by Swiss engineer Henry Göthardt in 1911 and named after his friend, graphic artist Hans Sankey.

Sankey charts consist of a set of directed arrows that represent the flow of energy or materials through a system. Each arrow is labeled with the amount of energy or material that flows into or out of a node, which represents a process or an object. The chart is typically divided into two halves, with the input side on the left and the output side on the right. The flow of energy or materials is depicted as flowing from the input side to the output side, with arrows pointing from higher input amounts to lower output amounts.

Creating a Sankey Chart

Sankey charts can be created using a variety of software tools. One popular tool for creating Sankey charts is Visio, which is a part of the Microsoft Office suite. Visio also has a built-in library of Sankey chart templates that can be used to create charts quickly and easily.

Other software tools that can be used to create Sankey charts include Lucidchart, SmartDraw, and Creately. Many of these tools offer online collaboration features, which make it easy for teams to work together on creating a Sankey chart.

The process of creating a Sankey chart typically involves the following steps:

Define the scope of the Sankey chart, including the processes or objects that will be included in the chart.
Identify the input and output nodes for the Sankey chart, and determine the amounts of energy or materials that flow into and out of each node.
Create a layout for the Sankey chart, including the positions of the nodes and their associated flow arrows.
Add labels and other details to the chart as needed.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Sankey charts are useful for visualizing the flow of materials, energy, or information through a system and identifying opportunities for optimization. Some common applications of Sankey charts include:

Environmental impact analysis: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of materials and energy through an industrial or natural system and identify areas where energy can be saved or waste reduced.
Supply chain management: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of materials and information throughout a supply chain and identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies that can be addressed.
Process optimization: Sankey charts can be used to identify and optimize processes that involve the transfer of materials or energy.
Energy system analysis: Sankey charts can be used to visualize and analyze the flow of energy through an energy system and identify areas where energy can be saved or generated more efficiently.

Conclusion

Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing the flow of materials, energy, or information through a system and identifying opportunities for optimization. They can be used in a wide range of applications, including environmental impact analysis, supply chain management, process optimization, and energy system analysis. By using a software tool to create a Sankey chart, you can easily and quickly visualize complex systems and gain a deeper understanding of the flow of energy or materials within them.

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.