Takt Time Calculator
Takt time, parts/hour, net available time.
Optional: station cycle times, line balance efficiency, bottleneck.
Ref: Ohno, Toyota Production System · Rother & Shook, Learning to See
Optional: station cycle times, line balance efficiency, bottleneck.
Ref: Ohno, Toyota Production System · Rother & Shook, Learning to See
I Demand & Availability
II Station Cycle Times (optional — for line balance)
Station Name
Cycle Time (sec)
III Primary Results
| Parameter | Value | Unit | Status |
|---|
IV Demand Sensitivity
| Demand (units/day) | Takt Time | Parts/Hour |
|---|
— Reference
Takt time is the heartbeat of lean production. Derived from the German Taktzeit (clock cycle), it is the maximum time allowed per unit to satisfy customer demand: Takt = Net Available Time ÷ Daily Demand.
Takt vs. Cycle vs. Lead Time
Takt time is demand-driven — what you need. Cycle time is supply-driven — what your process takes. Lead time is total elapsed time order to delivery. When any station's cycle time exceeds takt, you have a bottleneck and will miss demand.
Line Balancing
Distribute work so each station's cycle time is as close to takt as possible without exceeding it. 85–95% balance efficiency is excellent in practice. Imbalance creates idle time upstream and backlog downstream.
Practical Use
- Minimum operators = total cycle time ÷ takt time (round up)
- Production boards — display takt prominently so operators know the target pace
- Capacity planning — as demand grows, takt shrinks; know your breakpoints
— Frequently Asked Questions
What is takt time?
Takt time is the maximum time you can spend producing one unit and still meet customer demand. Takt Time = Available Production Time ÷ Customer Demand. It comes from the German "Taktzeit" and sets the rhythm for the entire production line.
What is the difference between takt time and cycle time?
Takt time is demand-driven — the pace you need. Cycle time is supply-driven — how long a station actually takes. If any station's cycle time exceeds takt, you have a bottleneck and cannot meet demand without adding capacity.
What is line balance efficiency?
Line balance efficiency = (sum of all cycle times) / (stations × bottleneck cycle time) × 100%. It measures how evenly work is distributed. 100% is perfect; lower values mean idle time at faster stations and overload at slower ones.
How do I reduce takt time?
Takt is driven by demand and available time. Options: increase available time (more shifts, less downtime) or level-schedule demand. If takt cannot change, reduce cycle times through kaizen to match it.