Heat Treatment, Furnaces & Thermal Processing worked example

Furnace Utilization at 61% target furnace utilization: a worked example in heat treatment, furnaces & thermal processing

This worked example runs the furnace utilization numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: 61% target furnace utilization instead of the typical 85%. Calculate furnace utilization from loaded furnace hours, available furnace hours, and the target utilization rate.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Loaded furnace hours: 168 hr (held at the documented default)
  • Available furnace hours: 200 hr (held at the documented default)
  • Target furnace utilization: 61 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 85)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Furnace utilization = loaded furnace hours ÷ available furnace hours × 100.
  • Furnace utilization works out to 84 % at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Gap to utilization target works out to -23 points at these inputs.
  • Loaded furnace hours works out to 168 hr at these inputs.
  • Available furnace hours works out to 200 hr at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where target furnace utilization sits at 85% and the headline result is 84 %, this scenario lands almost exactly on the baseline at 84 %.
  • Use it weekly or monthly when reviewing furnace loading, before justifying a new furnace, or when deciding whether to mothball a unit. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • Furnace utilization: 84 % (headline result)
  • Gap to utilization target: -23 points
  • Loaded furnace hours: 168 hr
  • Available furnace hours: 200 hr

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Furnace Utilization calculator, set target furnace utilization to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.