Cycle Time Calculator
See what cutting cycle time is worth — compare current and target cycle time and get the annual labour saving in seconds. Free, instant and fully in your browser.
Annual saving
10,417
Improvement: 20%
Labour-cost estimate only; actual savings depend on staffing, line balance and reinvestment of freed time.
What is cycle time?
Cycle time is how long it takes to complete one unit at a process or station — from the start of one piece to the start of the next. Reducing cycle time frees capacity and labour. This calculator turns a cycle-time reduction into an annual labour-cost figure so the improvement can be prioritised against effort.
How to use the calculator
- 1
Measure current cycle time
Enter the cycle time you observe today. Frame-accurate video study gives the most reliable figure.
- 2
Set a target
Enter the cycle time you expect after improvement (balancing, SMED, motion reduction).
- 3
Read the saving
The tool multiplies the per-unit saving by volume, work days and labour rate to estimate annual savings.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between cycle time and takt time?
Cycle time is how long the process actually takes; takt time is how often a unit must be finished to meet demand. Lean aims to bring cycle time at or just under takt at every station.
Is the annual saving guaranteed?
No — it is a labour-cost estimate. Real savings depend on whether freed time is redeployed, on line balance and on staffing decisions. Treat it as a prioritisation figure, not a promise.
How do I reliably measure cycle time?
Stopwatch readings are error-prone and miss variation. Yamazo Studio measures cycle time frame-by-frame from production video, with the variation and breakdown a stopwatch cannot capture.
Related lean tools & guides
From a number to a real improvement
A calculator estimates the prize. Yamazo Studio turns shop-floor video into the time studies, Yamazumi charts and balancing that actually cut cycle time — one offline Lean Operating Desk.
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