TAKT TIME
How to Calculate Takt Time
Takt time is available production time divided by required customer demand for the same period.
SHORT ANSWER
Start with the inputs you can verify
Takt time is available production time divided by required customer demand for the same period.
What the estimate means
Remove planned breaks, meetings, and shutdowns from available time before dividing.
Keep the time period and demand period identical; mixing daily time with weekly demand gives a meaningless result.
Where estimates go wrong
Takt is a demand rhythm, not proof that every process can achieve that cycle.
Keep the source measurements and assumptions with the result so another person can review or update the estimate later.
A practical workflow
- Choose the demand period.
- Calculate net available production time for that period.
- Divide net time by required units and compare the result with observed cycle times.