Sankey charts are a type of flowchart that allow you to visualize the flow of materials, services, or data through a system. They are a powerful tool for understanding and optimizing complex processes. In this article, we will explore how to create Sankey charts and what types of data they are best suited for.
What is a Sankey Chart?
A Sankey chart is a type of flowchart that was developed by Helmut Sankey in the early 20th century. It is named after its creator and is characterized by its unique shape, which resembles a torus or doughnut. Sankey charts are particularly useful for visualizing the flow of materials, services, or data through a system.
Sankey charts are composed of a series of interconnected circles, with arrows connecting the circles to indicate the flow of materials or data. The circles represent the different nodes in the system, while the arrows indicate the direction of the flow. The chart is read from the bottom to the top, with the incoming flow flowing into the node at the bottom and the outgoing flow flowing out of the node at the top.
The Benefits of Using Sankey Charts
There are several benefits to using Sankey charts, including:
- They provide a clear visual representation of complex processes.
- They help to identify bottlenecks and areas of inefficiency in the system.
- They allow you to easily compare different scenarios and explore the impact of changes to the system.
Applications of Sankey Charts
Sankey charts are most commonly used in the fields of operations research, logistics, and supply chain management. However, they can also be used in other areas, such as finance, marketing, and healthcare.
Operations Research: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of materials or resources through an organization. This can help to identify areas where improvements can be made to optimize the flow of materials.
Logistics: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of goods through a supply chain. This can help to identify areas where bottlenecks or inefficiencies exist and to explore the impact of changes to the supply chain.
Supply Chain Management: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of materials or services through a supply chain. This can help to identify areas where improvements can be made to optimize the flow of materials or services.
Finance: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of capital or investments through an organization. This can help to identify areas where improvements can be made to optimize the flow of capital.
Marketing: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of customers through a marketing campaign. This can help to identify areas where improvements can be made to optimize the flow of customers.
Healthcare: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of patients through a healthcare organization. This can help to identify areas where improvements can be made to optimize the flow of patients.
Creating a Sankey Chart
Creating a Sankey chart is relatively easy, using software such as Microsoft Excel or Visio. To create a Sankey chart, follow these steps:
- Create an account with a flowcharting software provider, such as Lucidchart or SmartDraw
- Sign in to your account and create a new flowchart
- Choose the Sankey chart type from the chart library
- Enter the data and connect the nodes
SankeyMaster
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