Unleashing the Power of Sankey Charts: Visualizing Data Flow and Leanness

Sankey charts are a type of flowchart that are used to visualize the flow of materials, energy, or information between different objects or systems. They have been used for decades in a variety of industries to help designers, managers, and analysts understand the efficiency and effectiveness of their processes. In this article, we will explore how to create Sankey charts and the many ways they can be used to improve productivity and efficiency.

What is a Sankey Chart?

A Sankey chart is a type of flowchart that uses nodes and arrows to represent the flow of materials, energy, or information between different objects or systems. The chart is named after its creator, Charles Sankey, who first developed the chart in the early 20th century.

Sankey charts are often used to illustrate the flow of materials between different stages of a manufacturing process, such as the conversion of raw materials into finished products. They can also be used to show the flow of energy between different systems, such as the transfer of heat from a power plant to a home or business.

One of the key advantages of Sankey charts is that they allow Analysts and Engineers to easily identify and optimize bottlenecks in the flow of materials, energy, or information. By highlighting areas where the flow can be improved, they can make changes that can increase efficiency and reduce waste.

Creating a Sankey Chart

Creating a Sankey chart involves several steps:

Determine the flow you want to visualize: Identify the different objects or systems involved in the flow, and the materials, energy, or information that are being exchanged between them.
Organize the data: Gather all the necessary data about the flow, including the flow rates, sources, and destinations of materials, energy, or information.
Create the chart: Use a flowcharting tool, such as Microsoft Visio or Lucidchart, to draw the chart. Start by adding nodes for the different objects or systems involved in the flow, and then add arrows to show the flow of materials, energy, or information between them.
Label the chart: Add labels to the chart to make it easier to understand. Label each node with the name of the object or system, and label each arrow to indicate the direction and flow rate of the materials, energy, or information.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Sankey charts have a wide range of applications, both in industry and in other fields. Some of the key uses include:

Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management: Sankey charts are often used to visualize the flow of materials, energy, or information through a manufacturing or supply chain system. This can help managers identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies, and make improvements that can increase productivity and reduce waste.
Environmental Management: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of materials, energy, or information between different environmental systems, such as the flow of water between a lake and a city. This can help managers identify areas where conservation or recycling efforts can be improved.
Financial Analysis: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of funds between different accounts or entities, such as the flow of money between a company’s different departments. This can help managers identify areas where they can reduce costs or increase revenue.
Healthcare: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of patients, healthcare providers, and treatments between different facilities or departments. This can help managers identify areas where they can improve the efficiency of care delivery.

In conclusion, Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing data flow and identifying opportunities for improvement. Whether you are a manufacturer, environmental manager, financial analyst, or healthcare provider, Sankey charts can help you understand your systems better and make improvements that can increase efficiency and reduce waste. With the right flowcharting tool, creating a Sankey chart is easy and can have a big impact on your work.

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.