What is cycle time in a manufacturing process?

Cycle time in a manufacturing process refers to the total time taken from the initiation to the completion of a process, encompassing all phases including both processing time (the actual time spent producing a product) and waiting times (delays caused by various factors such as material shortages, equipment malfunctions, or worker delays). This comprehensive view of cycle time is crucial for understanding production efficiency, identifying bottlenecks, and improving scheduling practices.

Understanding cycle time helps managers optimize processes by highlighting inefficiencies and facilitating better resource allocation. In contrast, training time, downtime for maintenance, and production rates, while important metrics in their own right, do not encapsulate the complete picture of how long it takes from start to finish in the manufacturing context.