Sankey charts, also known as Sankey diagrams, are a powerful data visualization tool for showing the flow and transformation of data. These charts are named after their creator, British engineer Freddie Sankey, who first introduced the concept in the 1920s.
Sankey charts are particularly useful for showing the direction and magnitude of data flow between different nodes within a system. They are especially useful for identifying bottlenecks, areas of waste, or opportunities for optimization within a system.
To create a Sankey chart, the first step is to gather the data that will be used to create the chart. This data should include the names of the nodes within the system, as well as the amount of data that flows between them. The next step is to determine the direction of the data flow, as well as the magnitude of the flow.
Once the data is collected, it can be used to create the Sankey chart using a spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. These programs offer a variety of formulas and tools that can be used to create the chart, including the SANKEY and EDGES functions in Excel.
There are many applications for Sankey charts, including in engineering and manufacturing to show the flow of materials, in finance to show the flow of capital, and in healthcare to show the flow of patients through a hospital system. Sankey charts can also be used to visualize the flow of ideas or information within a group or organization.
One of the key advantages of using Sankey charts is that they are highly scalable and can easily be modified to show different data and different parts of a system. They can also be customized to show different colors, fonts, and other visual elements to make the chart more informative and easy to understand.
In conclusion, Sankey charts are a powerful data visualization tool that can be used to show the flow and transformation of data within a system. They are particularly useful for identifying bottlenecks, areas of waste, or opportunities for optimization within a system. With a little bit of data and spreadsheet software, you can easily create a Sankey chart to help you better understand and improve the flow of data within your system.
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.