Sankey charts are a type of diagram that is frequently used in business and engineering fields. They are particularly useful for visualizing complex data, such as revenue streams, manufacturing processes, and transportation networks. In this article, we will look at how to create and understand sankey charts, along with some applications.

Creating Sankey Charts
A sankey chart is constructed by dividing a larger graph into segments and linking these segments with arrows that flow from source nodes to destination nodes. Each segment represents a separate flow, and each arrow shows the direction of the flow. For example, imagine that we want to visualize the flow of revenue from the manufacturing plants to the warehouse. We would create two sankey charts, one for revenue from sales and one for revenue from manufacturing. Each segment would represent a different source or destination (e.g., sales or manufacturing), and each arrow would represent the direction of the flow.

There are a few steps that you need to follow to create a sankey chart:

1. Draw the basic flow relationships: Determine the main flow relationships in your data. For example, if you have revenue data for different sales channels (e.g., direct sales, partners, and distributors), use these to create a sankey chart.

2. Create the sankey chart: Use software such as Google Charts or Tableau to create the sankey chart. This can be done using an algorithm, where you specify the flow relationships between the nodes and then the software generates the graph. Alternatively, you can manually connect the nodes and arrows using flowcharts software.

3. Customize the chart: To make the chart more visually appealing, you can add colors, labels, and annotations. You can also rotate the nodes or change the color, font size, and direction of the arrows.

And that’s it! You now have a sankey chart that visually represents the data. The diagram is generally used by business owners, finance professionals, and researchers to make quick data-driven decisions.

Applications of Sankey Charts
Sankey charts are widely used in various industries, such as manufacturing, finance, transportation, and engineering. Here are some of the applications:

1. Manufacturing: Sankey charts can visualize the flow of materials, workers, and equipment from one stage to another in the manufacturing process.

2. Finance: Sankey charts can be used in financial analysis to visualize the flow of income, expenses, and profits from different sources and channels.

3. Transportation: Sankey charts can help transport businesses visualize the flow of goods and services from their factories to retail locations.

4. Human Resources: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of employees from one department to another within a company.

5. Healthcare: Sankey charts can be used in medical research to visualize the flow of patients from one department to another within a hospital.

Conclusion
Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing complex data. By using different colors, labels, and arrows, you can make your sankey chart more visually appealing and easier to understand. Whether you are a business owner, finance professional, or researcher, sankey charts can help you make informed decisions based on data. With its variety of applications, sankey charts can help you unlock the secrets of complex data with ease.

SankeyMaster

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