While calculating the takt time it is crucial to identify the ‘effective working time’ per shift. This is start-to-stop shift time minus any scheduled operator breaks, meetings, cleanups, etc. Don’t subtract unplanned machine downtime, changeovers, or other internal problems.

Lastly, the amount of variation in the customer demand can significantly impact the takt time calculations. For occasional spikes, it is generally better to operate at a steady takt time and hold buffer stock of the finished goods. Changing takt time from day to day is inefficient, disrupts the work pace, and increases the potential for quality problems.

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