Station Cycle Time Calculator

Work out station cycle time instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Station Cycle Time Calculator

Station cycle time is the work content divided evenly across stations, and it must be at or below takt time — available time divided by demand — for the line to meet its schedule. Capacity is available time divided by the station cycle time, and demand against capacity gives utilisation.

Formulas

Cycle and takt

Station cycle time = work content / stations; takt time = available time / demand

Capacity

Capacity = available time / station cycle time

Worked example

With the default values below, Station Cycle Time Calculator returns Station Cycle Time of 56.25. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Available Production Timeminimum 0.01 minutes: 450 minutes
Units Requiredminimum 1: 400
Number Of Stationsminimum 1: 8
Total Work Content Per Unitminimum 0.01 minutes: 7.5 minutes

Results

Station Cycle Time: 56.25
Takt Time: 67.50
Line Capacity: 480
Capacity Utilisation: 83.33%

Step by step

1Values used
2Cycle and takt
3Capacity
4Station Cycle Time= 56.25
5Takt Time= 67.50
6Line Capacity= 480
7Capacity Utilisation= 83.33

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between cycle time and takt time?

Takt time is set by the customer: how often a unit must be finished. Cycle time is what the line actually achieves. Cycle time above takt means the line cannot keep up.

Should cycle time equal takt time exactly?

Design cycle time at 85-95% of takt to leave room for minor stoppages and variation. Running at exactly takt means any hiccup creates a shortfall that cannot be recovered.