Takt Time Calculation: Formula, Example and Calculator
Takt time is the heartbeat of the value stream: how many seconds can pass between two finished parts leaving the plant so that demand is met. Every future-state design is built around it.
Takt time calculator
Formula
Takt time is calculated from the available working time per day and the customer demand per day. Breaks and planned downtime are subtracted from working time; breakdowns are not.
Takt time and cycle time
Takt time comes from the market. Cycle time is the actual output of a process, measured between two finished parts. If cycle time is above takt time, the process cannot meet demand; if it is well below, the process builds ahead.
The effective cycle time accounts for uptime, performance rate, scrap and changeovers: cycle time ÷ uptime ÷ performance rate ÷ (1 − scrap rate) + changeover time ÷ batch size. Uptime only covers breakdowns; changeovers are counted through changeover time and batch size, so nothing is deducted twice. Only the effective cycle time can be compared with takt time.
In German plants, "Taktzeit" and "Kundentakt" usually mean the same thing: takt time. What needs to be kept apart is the planned cycle time of a line. It is set slightly below takt time on purpose, so that small disruptions do not hit the customer right away.
Common mistakes
- Counting breaks as working time: takt becomes too long, and processes look faster than they are.
- Taking demand from the production schedule instead of the customer: overproduction gets built into the takt.
- Dividing annual demand by 365 instead of by working days: daily demand comes out too low.
- Ignoring multiple products: for a product family, total demand counts; with different cycle times, use the demand-weighted mix.
Practice in the editor
In the "Machine building" template, change the working time and customer demand and watch which processes slip above takt.
Open the template in the editor Start blankFrequently asked questions
Is there a difference between takt time and customer takt?
Usually not: both mean the time per part set by customer demand (takt time). What is different is the planned cycle time of a line, which is set a little shorter than takt time so that disruptions do not hit the customer right away.
How do I calculate takt time with multiple shifts?
Add up all shifts and subtract breaks: for example, 3 shifts of 7.5 net hours = 22.5 hours = 81,000 seconds per day.
What if cycle time is above takt time?
Increase uptime (TPM), cut changeover time (SMED), redistribute work content (operator balance), or add a parallel station. ValueStreamMapping.app shows such processes in red and states the action needed.