Takt Time Calculator
Calculate takt time — the production pace required to meet customer demand — and compare it against your actual cycle time to identify capacity gaps.
Formula & Reference
| Variable | Symbol | Formula | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Takt Time Calculator | — | Takt time = available production time / customer demand | time per unit |
Step-by-Step Examples
450 min per shift, 2 shifts, demand 600 units, cycle 1.6 min, 1 station.
- Available = 450 × 2 = 900 min
- Takt = 900 / 600 = 1.50 min/unit
- Cycle 1.6 min exceeds takt 1.50 min
- Stations needed = ceil(1.6 / 1.50) = 2
480 min per shift, 1 shift, demand 300 units, cycle 1.2 min.
- Available = 480 min
- Takt = 480 / 300 = 1.60 min/unit
- Cycle 1.2 min is within takt
- Capacity = 480 / 1.2 = 400 units/day, 33% headroom
900 min available, demand 1,200 units, cycle 2.0 min, 3 stations.
- Takt = 900 / 1,200 = 0.75 min/unit
- Effective cycle = 2.0 / 3 = 0.667 min
- Within takt — demand met
- Capacity = 900 / 0.667 = 1,350 units/day
Real-World Applications
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Takt is the required pace set by demand; cycle time is your actual pace. Takt is an external constraint, not something you control.
Available production time should exclude scheduled breaks, meetings, and planned maintenance, otherwise takt is understated and targets become unachievable.
Producing above takt creates inventory nobody ordered, consuming cash and space. Lean thinking treats overproduction as the most serious waste.