Takt time

Takt time is a calculation of the rate at which a product must be completed to meet customer demand. It is a key concept in lean manufacturing and is used to set production targets. It is calculated by taking the total available time in a day divided by the customer demand.

Example of Takt time

• If a company has a total of 10 hours available to produce a product, and the customer demand is for 20 units, the Takt time would be 30 minutes (10 hrs x 60 min/hr ÷ 20 units = 30 min/unit).
• If a company has a total of 12 hours available to produce a product, and the customer demand is for 15 units, the Takt time would be 48 minutes (12 hrs x 60 min/hr ÷ 15 units = 48 min/unit).

In conclusion, Takt Time is a calculation used to measure the rate at which a product must be completed to meet customer demand. It is calculated by taking the total available time in a day divided by the customer demand and is used to set production targets and identify areas of waste and inefficiency in the production process.

Formula of Takt time

Takt time is calculated by taking the total available time in a day divided by the customer demand. Mathematically, Takt time can be calculated as:

${\text{Takt Time}}={\frac {\text{Available Time}}{\text{Customer Demand}}}$

When to use Takt time

• Takt time can be used to set production targets and ensure that the right amount of product is produced to meet customer demand.
• Takt time can be used to identify areas of waste and inefficiency in the production process, so that they can be addressed and improved.
• Takt time can also be used to set the pace of production and to ensure that workers are working fast enough to complete tasks on time.

Takt time is an important calculation used in Lean Manufacturing to measure production rate and set production targets. It is calculated by taking the total available time in a day divided by the customer demand, and can be used to identify areas of waste and inefficiency in the production process, set the pace of production, and ensure that the right amount of product is produced to meet customer demand.

Types of Takt time

• Cycle Takt Time: This is the time it takes to complete a single cycle of production. It is determined by calculating the total available time divided by the total number of items to be produced in a cycle.
• Process Takt Time: This is the time it takes to complete a single process in the production cycle. It is determined by calculating the total available time divided by the total number of processes to be completed in a cycle.
• Unit Takt Time: This is the time it takes to complete a single unit of production. It is determined by calculating the total available time divided by the total number of units to be produced in a cycle.

Steps of Takt time calculation

• Calculate customer demand: The first step in calculating Takt time is to identify the customer demand. This is the number of units of product that the customer has requested or that is expected to be sold.
• Calculate the available time: The next step is to calculate the total available time. This is the total amount of time that is available for production each day, and it can include any breaks or downtime.
• Calculate Takt time: Lastly, Takt time is calculated by dividing the total available time by the customer demand. This calculated number is the amount of time that should be allocated for each unit in order to meet customer demand.

Advantages of Takt time

• Takt time helps to ensure that customer demand is met by setting a realistic pace of production.
• It can help to identify areas of waste and inefficiency in the production process and can be used to improve these areas.
• Takt time helps to improve communication between workers and management, as it helps to set realistic expectations and goals.

Limitations of Takt time

Takt time does not take into account other factors such as the complexity of the product, the availability of materials, the skill of the workers, or the size of the production batch. It also assumes that customer demand is constant, which is not always the case in reality. Therefore, Takt time should be used in conjunction with other methods, such as cycle time analysis, in order to ensure that production meets customer demand.

Other approaches related to Takt time

• Kanban: Kanban is a production system that uses visual signals to indicate when materials are needed and when production should start. It is based on the principles of continuous improvement and is designed to reduce waste and improve production efficiency.
• Just-in-time (JIT): Just-in-time is a production system that is designed to reduce waste and improve production efficiency by having materials and components delivered just as they are needed for production.
• Lean manufacturing: Lean manufacturing is a production system that is designed to reduce waste and improve production efficiency. It is based on the principles of continuous improvement, and it focuses on eliminating waste and improving efficiency throughout the production process.

Takt time — recommended articles

Lot size — Process costing — Workforce productivity — Minimum cost method — Production cycle — Overall equipment effectiveness — Single minute exchange of die — Distributed cost — Variable overhead efficiency variance

References

• Frandson, A., & Tommelein, I. D. (2014). Development of a takt-time plan: A case study. In Construction Research Congress 2014: Construction in a Global Network (pp. 1646-1655).
• Frandson, A., Berghede, K., & Tommelein, I. D. (2013, August). Takt time planning for construction of exterior cladding. In 21st Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction. Fortaleza, Brazil (pp. 21-2).
• Ali, R. M., & Deif, A. M. (2014). Dynamic lean assessment for takt time implementation. Procedia Cirp, 17, 577-581.