Takt Time Calculator
Takt time is the heartbeat of your line - the pace you must hit to meet demand. Get it from your time and demand, then check it against your cycle time. Updates as you type.
Demand & time
Use one shift or one day - keep both inputs on the same period.
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Hitting takt is about losing fewer seconds.
The gap between cycle and takt is usually eaten by micro-stops and speed loss you can't see. Fabrico reads every stop from the line and shows the true cause - so the line actually runs at the pace it's capable of.
See how Fabrico protects your paceHow to calculate takt time
Takt time = available production time ÷ customer demand. If you have 450 minutes available and demand is 360 units, takt = 1.25 min (75 seconds) per unit - you must finish a unit every 75 seconds to keep up.
The word comes from the German Takt (a musical beat). It sets the rhythm the whole line is balanced around.
Takt vs cycle vs lead time
- Takt time - the pace demand requires (a target).
- Cycle time - how fast you actually produce one unit (reality).
- Lead time - total time from start to finished, including waiting.
The rule: cycle time must be ≤ takt time. Run cycle a little under takt to absorb variation - if cycle creeps above takt, you fall behind every unit.
Should takt include breaks and downtime?
Use available time - net of planned breaks and scheduled stops. Don't subtract unplanned downtime; that's a loss you want cycle headroom to absorb.
What if cycle is above takt?
You can't meet demand as-is. Options: reduce cycle time (eliminate waste, balance the line), add a parallel station, or add hours. First, check whether micro-stops are silently inflating your real cycle.
How does takt relate to OEE?
OEE losses make your effective cycle slower than the nameplate. A line that should beat takt easily can still miss it once stops and speed loss are counted - see the OEE calculator.
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