How to use this calculator
- Enter or choose net operating time.
- Enter or choose units completed.
- Enter or choose takt time to compare (optional).
- The average cycle time updates as you type. Use Copy result or Share to keep it.
Method
Cycle time = Operating time ÷ Units; Units per hour = Units ÷ Operating hours
- Operating time
- time the process was running (excluding breaks and stops)
Worked example
- Cycle time = 420 × 60 s ÷ 840 = 30 s.
- Output = 840 ÷ 7 h = 120 units per hour.
- 30 s is under the 42 s takt, so the process keeps up.
At 30 seconds per unit the line makes 120 units an hour, comfortably inside a 42-second takt.
What the result means
The gap between cycle time and takt is your buffer for variation. A cycle time very close to takt leaves no room for stoppages.
Assumptions and limits
- Units counted are completed units from one line or station.
- This is an average; individual cycles vary. For parallel stations, divide by the number of stations to get the effective cycle time.
Questions
Is cycle time the same as lead time?
No. Lead time is the total time one unit spends in the process, including waiting; cycle time is how often a unit comes off the end.
What if I have two machines in parallel?
The effective cycle time of the pair is half the average cycle time of each machine.