If takt time is 30 seconds and a process step has a cycle time of 22 seconds, how long is the waiting time per cycle at that step?

If takt time is 30 seconds and a process step has a cycle time of 22 seconds, how long is the waiting time per cycle at that step?

• A. 0 seconds
• B. 8 seconds
• C. 22 seconds
• D. 30 seconds

Answer: (B)

Takt time defines how long you have to finish each unit to meet demand, so any step that completes faster than that rhythm leaves idle time to be absorbed elsewhere. The waiting time per cycle is the slack between takt time and the step’s cycle time. Here, 30 seconds minus 22 seconds equals 8 seconds. So each unit spends 8 seconds waiting at that step to stay synchronized with the production pace. If a step were slower than takt time, it would become a bottleneck, but with these numbers the waiting time is 8 seconds.

Takt time defines how long you have to finish each unit to meet demand, so any step that completes faster than that rhythm leaves idle time to be absorbed elsewhere. The waiting time per cycle is the slack between takt time and the step’s cycle time. Here, 30 seconds minus 22 seconds equals 8 seconds. So each unit spends 8 seconds waiting at that step to stay synchronized with the production pace. If a step were slower than takt time, it would become a bottleneck, but with these numbers the waiting time is 8 seconds.