Sankey charts are a type of flowchart that helps visualize the flow of data between various entities. They are particularly useful for analyzing complex networks and showing how different components are connected to each other. In this article, we’ll explore how to create and use sankey charts to unlock the power of visual exploration and data analysis of complex connections and data flow.
What are Sankey Charts?
Sankey charts are a type of flowchart, similar to a diagram of a data flow in which nodes represent data objects (entities in your dataset) and edges represent the flows between them. They use a layout that is similar to a tree diagram to make the relationships between nodes and their flows easier to see. In this way, you can quickly understand the relationships between different data points, and the data flow patterns they represent.
Sankey charts have many applications, particularly in business and engineering. They are useful for analyzing supply chain logistics, financial transactions, business processes, and more, to name a few.
How to Create A Sankey Chart
To create a sankey chart, you need to first prepare your data. The data should be organized into categories or clusters, each of which can be represented as a node. Edges should be used to represent the flow between nodes, using a gradient or color to indicate the direction of the flow. This can be done manually or using software like Adobe Illustrator.
In this article, we’ll take an example of analyzing the supply chain logistics of a company to illustrate the steps for creating a sankey chart.
Example of Supply Chain Sankey Chart
To create a sankey chart for analyzing supply chain logistics, we need to organize the relevant data into categories or clusters. In this example, we’ll use the following data:
– Materials
– Raw Materials
– Intermediate Products
– Finished Products
– Packaging
– Logistics (Transportation, Warehousing, etc.)
– Customers (Consumers of finished products)
– Inventory (Quantity in stock)
– Suppliers (Suppliers of raw materials and intermediates)
– Invoices (Transactions with customers)
– Payment (Transactions with suppliers)
To create a sankey chart for supply chain logistics, we will follow the steps mentioned above.
- Organize the data into categories, with each category represented as a node. 2. Use an outline similar to a tree diagram to indicate the flow of data between nodes. You can use a gradient or color to indicate the direction of the flow. 3. Create edges between the nodes that represent transactions, using a gradient or color to represent the direction of the flow.
- Draw another edge for each supplier, indicating the supply chain as a flow from suppliers to manufacturers. 5. Draw nodes and edges to represent the logistics of the transportation and warehousing process. 6. Use the same formatting and gradient to represent the data flow in the logistics department. 7. Create another edge for each customer, indicating the demand as a flow towards customers. 8. Lastly, create nodes and edges to represent the data flow in the payment department.
When you’ve finished creating your sankey chart, you should see a visualization of the different types of flows and the way they connect various data points within the supply chain. This visualization can help you understand where there are bottlenecks, how different aspects of the supply chain interact, and where improvements can be made.
Conclusion
Sankey charts are a useful tool for visualizing complex data and connections. By using flowchart and gradient-based visualizations, you have made it easy to understand the various flows within your data network. Using sankey charts can help you analyze and optimize your data flow, making it easier to identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement. By creating sankey charts, you can unlock the power of visual exploration and data analysis of complex connections and data flow.
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.
