Acoustic, Noise, Vibration & NVH Products worked example

Acoustic Product Assembly Labor at 99% direct labor allocation: a worked example

What does the result look like when direct labor allocation reaches 99%? The full calculation is worked below with real intermediate numbers. a manufacturing engineer or estimator needs labor dollars for an acoustic panel, enclosure liner, isolator kit, or NVH part

The inputs for this scenario

  • Assembly labor hours: 42 hr (unchanged)
  • Burdened labor rate: 58 $ / hr (unchanged)
  • Direct labor allocation: 99 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 92)
  • Setup/inspection cost: 320 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Direct labor subtotal = assembly labor hours × burdened labor rate × direct labor allocation) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 2,732 $ for assembly labor cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 65.04 $ / hr for labor cost per hour.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 2,412 $ for direct labor subtotal.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 320 $ for setup/inspection cost.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where direct labor allocation sits at 92% and the headline result is 2,561 $, this scenario comes in 6.66% above the baseline at 2,732 $.
  • A figure at this level is achievable when direct labor allocation is genuinely sustained, not just peaked for a shift. The allocation factor and burdened rate are estimates; if your standard already nets out indirect time, set allocation to 100% to avoid double-discounting labor.

Results at a glance

  • Assembly labor cost: 2,732 $ (headline result)
  • Labor cost per hour: 65.04 $ / hr
  • Direct labor subtotal: 2,412 $
  • Setup/inspection cost: 320 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Acoustic Product Assembly Labor calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.