Unleashing the Power of Process: A Sankey Chart Journey

A Sankey chart is a powerful visualization tool that can help you better understand and manage complex processes. Unlike other types of charts, Sankey charts allow you to easily see the flow of materials, information, or money through a process, and to identify potential bottlenecks or areas where efficiency can be improved.

In this article, we will explore the basics of Sankey chart creation, as well as some examples of how these charts can be used to improve business processes and efficiency.

What is a Sankey Chart?

A Sankey chart is named after its creator, George Sankey, who developed the technique in the early 20th century. These charts are used to show the flow of materials, energy, or information through a process, and are particularly useful for identifying and managing bottlenecks in complex systems.

The chart consists of a network of arrows, each labeled with a specific quantity or flow rate. The arrows represent the movement of materials or information, and the network of connections between the arrows represents the various steps or stages in the process. The chart can be used to show the overall flow of the process, as well as to examine the flow at different points or stages.

How to Create a Sankey Chart

Creating a Sankey chart is relatively simple, provided you have access to the necessary data. Here are the steps to create a simple Sankey chart:

1. Gather your data: Start by gathering the necessary data to create your Sankey chart. This may include quantities of materials or information entering and leaving each stage of the process, as well as the flow rates or other relevant information.
2. Organize your data: Once you have your data, it’s time to organize it into a format that is suitable for use with a Sankey chart. This typically involves creating a spreadsheet or database that contains the relevant information, and then converting this data into a format that can be imported into a visualization tool, such as Microsoft Visio or Lucidchart.
3. Choose your visualization tool: Now that you have your data organized, you can choose a visualization tool to create your Sankey chart. There are several options available, including Microsoft Visio, Lucidchart, and SmartDraw.
4. Create your chart: Once you have chosen your visualization tool, import your data into the tool and follow the prompts to create your Sankey chart. This typically involves selecting the appropriate type of chart, configuring the settings to fit your data, and then dragging and dropping the arrows into the chart to represent the flow of materials or information.
5. Customize your chart: Once your chart is created, you can customize it to fit your needs. This may include adding labels or annotations, formatting the chart to fit your preferred style, and adjusting the colors or other visual elements to enhance the clarity and impact of the chart.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Sankey charts are a powerful tool for understanding and optimizing complex processes. Some examples of how these charts can be used include:

• Improving supply chain management: Sankey charts can be used to visualize and manage the flow of materials through a supply chain, allowing companies to identify where bottlenecks may exist and take steps to optimize the process.
• Identifying and reducing waste: Sankey charts can be used to visualize and analyze the flow of materials or information through a process, helping companies to identify areas where waste may be occurring and take steps to reduce it.
• Optimizing resource allocation: Sankey charts can

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