⏱️ Takt Time Simulator
Adjust the values and see the result in real time. The preloaded values are examples.
TAKT TIME
3.0 min
The pace you need
Gap
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-
Current capacity / day
128 units
Quick summary
- Problem: confusing these times leads to wrong decisions, like buying faster machines when the line does not need them.
- Approach: understand the customer's pace (Takt) to tune the machines' pace (Cycle) and cut the total wait (Lead Time).
- What you get: clear definitions and a simulator to find your bottleneck in seconds.
The three times explained without the smoke
They look similar, but they measure completely different things. The golden rule: Takt sets the music, Cycle tells you whether you can dance, and Lead Time tells you how long the dance lasts.
Takt Time (Customer Pace)
How often you must produce to meet demand.
Formula: Available time / Required units.
Cycle Time (Machine Pace)
How long a station takes to complete one unit. If it is above the Takt, you have a bottleneck.
Lead Time (Total Time)
From the moment the order comes in until it goes out. It includes every wait, queue and transport.
Flow Simulator
Enter the Takt Time and the cycle times of 3 stations. The chart will show you what is slowing your production. The preloaded values are examples.
Your pace target.
2. A numeric example for leaders
Your plant must produce 480 units/day with 7.5 h of net work time.
- Takt time = 27.5 s/unit (Target pace).
- Station A = 24 s (✅ OK).
- Station B = 33 s (❌ Bottleneck).
Conclusion: You don't need more people at A; you need to unload B or rebalance operations.
Illustrative example: a line stabilizes its pace
Imagine a line with high variability at one station: intermittent stops and scrap. Measuring the real cycle shows the station drifting above the Takt.
With micro-experiments on B (maintenance, rebalancing), scrap would come down and production would stabilize without adding resources.