A Gantt chart is one of the most effective tools with which a company can keep track of its tasks and deadlines. A Gantt chart provides the visual timeline of a project by representing the data in a graph form. This also makes the deadlines easier to understand for both the project managers and the employees. Here is a brief guide to better understand Gantt charts, their usage, and how to make them.

The key components of a Gantt chart
A Gantt chart uses a simple bar graph method to show the planned deadlines of a project. It comprises the following components to depict the project timeline on a bar graph:

1. The task titles
In a Gantt chart, the titles or names of the tasks are represented on the y-axis (vertical axis) of the graph.

2. Starting dates and ending dates
On the x-axis (horizontal axis) of the Gantt chart, the starting and ending dates of the project and the tasks are represented.

3. Progress
Progress of each task of the project is represented by a horizontal bar running along the y-axis in front of the respective task titles.

Benefits of a Gantt chart
A Gantt chart has the following benefits when it comes to representing project timelines:

• The bar graph method used by a Gantt chart makes it easy for an organization to check if any of the tasks of a project overlap with each other. This further helps them to assign tasks effectively.
• With a Gantt chart, a company can also keep track of which employee was assigned a particular task to ensure that everyone’s deadlines are being met.
• A Gantt chart also makes it easier to recognize the slack times for certain tasks, which can then be utilized for other activities with a shorter deadline.

How to make a Gantt chart?
There are two ways a user can make a Gantt chart: manually, using a spreadsheet tool, or with an online Gantt chart maker software.

With a spreadsheet tool
To make a Gantt chart manually, the main requirement is a spreadsheet software or application. This application should have the option to create bar graphs based on the data provided by the user. With the application or software, one can follow the steps as written below to create a Gantt chart:

1. Create a table with the data
Firstly, create a new table in a new window of the application. In this table, make four columns. The first three columns would include the name of the tasks, their starting date, and their ending date. The fourth and the last column of the table should show the number of days the task should ideally take to be completed. Once this table is created, enter the data based on the project timeline.

2. Convert the table into a stacked bar graph
Next, look for the option on the spreadsheet software that allows the user to insert a stacked bar graph based on the values they provide. In the dialog box that appears, select the appropriate data range and enter the values from the table. As mentioned above, the tasks would be listed along the y-axis, and their timelines would be written along the x-axis. For an accurate Gantt chart, select the option for a 2D bar graph.

3. Use the right colors for an accurate representation
Once the bar graph is projected, ensure to use the right color coding to track the progress of the task, from its beginning date till its deadline. It is important to note here that by default, a spreadsheet tool will color the entire data bar. To ensure that the bar only represents the timeline of a task from a certain date and not from the beginning of the x-axis, the user must manually adjust the color of the bar.

With Gantt chart making software
Besides spreadsheet tools, a Gantt chart can also be made with online software. There are various software available on the internet with which a user can make a Gantt chart easily. While most of these software require the users to pay, they also provide trial periods to allow users to make Gantt charts online for free.

A benefit of these software over spreadsheets is that they allow the users to keep track of their project completion in real time. Making changes in the graphs becomes fairly easier with such online software compared to spreadsheets. This further streamlines the management of pending projects for the organization.

Gantt charts have become one of the most reliable and effective tools for various organizations to keep track of their projects. Whether for large-scale industries or small-scale startups, Gantt charts can make tracking deadlines and ensuring efficiency way easier. From manufacturing units to software designing firms, almost every organization today relies on Gantt charts to ensure that their project deadlines are met efficiently.