Sankey charts are a type of flow chart that are highly useful for visualizing the flow and transformation of data. They are often used in operations research, finance, and logistics to analyze and optimize processes. In this article, we will discuss how to create Sankey charts, some of their common applications, and how they can help you better understand and improve your data.

What are Sankey charts?

Sankey charts are a type of flow chart that are used to visualize the flow of materials or data between different nodes or categories. They are named after the Irish graph theorist Frank J. Sankey, who developed them in the 1920s.

A Sankey chart consists of a set of nodes or categories, each of which represents a specific source or sink of data or materials. The edges or branches of the chart represent the flow of data or materials between these nodes, and the width or weight of the branches can be used to represent the magnitude or importance of the flow.

One of the key advantages of Sankey charts is that they allow you to easily see the relative importance and direction of the flow of data or materials. For example, you can use a Sankey chart to visualize the flow of customers through a sales process, showing which stages are most important and which customers are most likely to drop out.

How to create Sankey charts

There are several software programs available for creating Sankey charts, including Visio, Excel, and specialized flowcharting tools such as Layout and ProcessFlow.

To create a Sankey chart in Excel, for example, you can follow these steps:

1. Open Excel and create a new workbook.
2. Insert a new chart chart type and select the Sankey chart option.
3. In the Sankey chart dialog box, specify the data range you want to use for the chart and choose the nodes and categories you want to include.
4. Customize the chart layout and formatting as desired, including adding data series, labels, and other elements.
5. Preview and save the chart.

Common applications of Sankey charts

Sankey charts are useful for a wide range of applications, including:

1. Operations research: Sankey charts are often used to optimize processes and identify areas for improvement. For example, you could use a Sankey chart to analyze the flow of materials through a manufacturing plant and identify bottlenecks or inefficiencies.
2. Finance: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of cash between different accounts or regions, helping to identify trends and areas for concern.
3. Logistics: Sankey charts are popular in logistics and supply chain management, allowing you to visualize the flow of goods between different locations or stages of the supply chain.
4. Marketing: Sankey charts can be used to analyze the flow of customers through a marketing or sales process, identifying which stages are most important and which customers are most likely to drop out.

Conclusion

Sankey charts are a powerful visualization tool for understanding and improving the flow and transformation of data. They are easy to create and customize, and can be used in a wide range of applications. Whether you are analyzing a manufacturing process, visualizing customer behavior, or optimizing finance operations, Sankey charts can help you better understand and improve your data.

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