Cycle Time Calculator
Calculate cycle time per unit, takt time, theoretical throughput rate, and identify potential bottlenecks in your production process.
Throughput Rates
Frequently Asked Questions
Cycle time is how long it actually takes to produce one unit. Takt time is how fast you need to produce to meet customer demand (available time ÷ demand). If cycle time > takt time, you cannot meet demand. If cycle time < takt time, you have capacity available.
A bottleneck is the process step that limits overall throughput. It is the slowest step that all units must pass through. In lean manufacturing, identifying and addressing the bottleneck (the constraint) is the highest-leverage improvement.
Key strategies: eliminate non-value-added steps (waste), improve machine setup/changeover (SMED), balance workloads across operators, improve material flow, invest in automation for repetitive tasks, and apply 5S to reduce time searching for tools and materials.
Throughput rate (or production rate) is the number of units produced per unit of time. It is the inverse of cycle time: if cycle time is 60 seconds/unit, throughput is 60 units/hour. Throughput is constrained by the slowest process step.
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