Production worked example

Machine Utilization with available machine time of 40 hr: a worked example in production

Push available machine time up to 40 hr and the picture changes. This example computes every intermediate figure at that operating point. Use when equipment is expensive and idle time needs visibility.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Available machine time: 40 hr (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 16)
  • Run time: 11.5 hr (unchanged)
  • Downtime: 1.2 hr (unchanged)
  • Idle / waiting time: 3.3 hr (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Utilization = run time รท available time) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 28.75 % for utilization, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 8.25 % for idle time.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 3 % for downtime.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 24 hr for unassigned time.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where available machine time sits at 16 hr and the headline result is 71.88 %, this scenario comes in 60% below the baseline at 28.75 %.
  • It divides a machine's available time into run, downtime, and idle percentages so you can see how much of the window is actually productive. The value of this scenario is the size of the gap it exposes: that gap, priced out over a year, is the budget you can justify spending to close it.

Results at a glance

  • Utilization: 28.75 % (headline result)
  • Idle time: 8.25 %
  • Downtime: 3 %
  • Unassigned time: 24 hr

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Machine Utilization calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.