Sankey charts are a powerful, versatile flowcharting tool that allow you to visualize and analyze the flow and efficiency of your business processes. By mapping out the steps and actions involved in your business, you can identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement. In this article, we’ll explore the basics of Sankey chart creation and some practical applications that can help your business work more efficiently, save time and money, and grow.

What are Sankey charts?

Sankey charts, also known as directed flow charts or network flow charts, are graphical representations of the flow of materials, services, or information through a system or process. They are named after William Edward Sankey, an engineer who popularized the use of flow charts in the early 20th century.

Sankey charts have several advantages over traditional flowcharts, including their ability to handle complex processes with multiple interconnections, their capacity to show the direction of flow, and their scalability to handle large systems. Additionally, Sankey charts are particularly useful for identifying bottlenecks, optimizing processes, and visualizing the impact of changes on a system.

How to create a Sankey chart

Creating a Sankey chart can be a bit complicated, but there are several software tools available that make the process easier. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Gather data: Collect all the information about the process you want to visualize, including the steps, inputs, outputs, and any other relevant data.
2. Set up the chart: Choose a software tool that supports Sankey charts, such as Microsoft Visio, Lucidchart, or Gliffy. Create a new chart and select the Sankey chart type.
3. Connect the data: Use the software tool’s drag-and-drop functionality to connect the various data points in the chart. Make sure to include all the necessary connections, such as inputs, outputs, and feedback loops.
4. Customize the chart: Customize the chart to fit your needs, such as adding filters, changing the chart colors, or modifying the shape of nodes and links.
5. Analyze the chart: Use the chart to identify瓶颈, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement. Outputs such as Gantt charts, Pareto charts, and resource utilization charts can be generated to provide additional insights.

Applications of Sankey charts

Sankey charts have a wide range of applications across various industries and businesses, including:

1. Manufacturing and production: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods through a manufacturing process. They can help identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies, and provide insights into how to optimize the process.
2. Supply chain management: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of goods and services through a supply chain, which can help identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements.
3. Business process management: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of tasks and responsibilities within a business process, which can help identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for automation and simplification.
4. Project management: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of tasks and responsibilities within a project, which can help identify potential issues, track progress, and optimize schedules.

Conclusion

Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing and analyzing the flow of materials, services, or information through a business process. By mapping out the steps and actions involved in a process, you can identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement, which can help your business work more efficiently, save time and money, and grow. While creating a Sankey chart can be a bit complicated, there are several software tools available that make the process easier. With the right data and analysis, you can unlock the full potential of Sankey charts and take your business to the next level.

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.