Takt time calculator
Enter the shift length, the breaks, the number of shifts and the daily demand. The calculator gives the takt time, the pace a line must keep to meet demand, and, from the total work content of one unit, how many operators that pace needs.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- Enter the shift length and the planned breaks per shift, in minutes.
- Enter the number of shifts per day and the demand per day.
- Optionally enter the work content: the total manual work time to make one unit, in seconds.
- Read the takt time, the output needed per hour and the operators needed.
- Available time = (shift length − breaks) × shifts.
- Takt time = available time ÷ demand.
- Units per hour = 3,600 ÷ takt time (in seconds).
- Operators = work content ÷ takt time, rounded up for staffing.
Worked example
Two 8-hour shifts (480 min) with 60 minutes of breaks each and a demand of 840 units a day:
- available time (480 − 60) × 2 = 840 min = 50,400 s;
- takt time 50,400 ÷ 840 = 60 s per unit, 60 units an hour;
- with 300 s of work per unit: 300 ÷ 60 = 5 operators.
One shift of 450 minutes with 30 minutes of breaks and 400 units: takt 25,200 ÷ 400 = 63 s; 200 s of work needs 3.17, so 4 operators.
Tips
- Recalculate when demand changes; takt time is a target, not a machine property.
- Plan below takt. Aim for station cycle times somewhat under the takt time to absorb small stops and variation.
- Demand per period must match the time period: daily demand with daily available time, weekly with weekly.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate takt time?
Takt time = net available production time ÷ customer demand in that time. Two 480-minute shifts with 60 minutes of breaks each give 840 minutes, or 50,400 seconds; for 840 units a day the takt time is 60 seconds.
What is the difference between takt time and cycle time?
Takt time is set by the customer: how often a unit must be finished to meet demand. Cycle time is how long the process actually takes per unit. If cycle time is longer than takt time, the line cannot keep up.
How many operators do I need?
Theoretically, total work content ÷ takt time. 300 seconds of work per unit at a 60-second takt needs 5 operators. Round up, then balance the work so no station exceeds the takt time.
Should breaks and meetings be taken out?
Yes. Takt time uses the time the line is actually available to produce, so subtract planned breaks, meetings and planned maintenance. Unplanned stops are not subtracted; they are losses the line must absorb.