Takt time vs cycle time vs lead time: calculate the right clock
A worked shift example separates customer pace, observed process speed and end-to-end delivery time, with practical checks before changing the line.
Takt time
Required production rhythm set by available time and demand.
The available production time divided by customer demand for that period. Takt is the required rhythm, not the actual cycle time; comparing them reveals capacity gaps, bottlenecks, and balancing opportunities.
See also: Cycle time · OEE · Andon system
Use the concept: Cp, Cpk, Pp & Ppk calculator · Downtime log template · MTBF, MTTR & availability calculator
In depth
Gauge R&R: how much variation is the gauge?
A gauge R&R study separates measurement error from real part-to-part variation, so you can tell whether a tolerance decision is trustworthy.
SMED changeover study: measure last good to first good
Use a time observation sheet to separate internal and external work, preserve safe setup steps, and verify a repeatable changeover improvement.