What goes in auto machine time?

The machine time inside one cycle that sets the pace, such as a cut, press stroke or oven dwell. Include it once per unit and leave setup and downtime out.

Why is operator work less than total cycle?

Operator work is manual time plus walk time. Machine time adds to the cycle, but the operator is free while it runs, so utilization divides only the operator work by takt.

What does a negative gap mean?

The cycle runs longer than takt, so the station misses the demand pace. Attack the largest element first, move work to a station under takt, or add capacity.

How does this relate to a yamazumi board?

The board stacks the same elements as bars against takt. This tool reduces the stack to one cycle and adds the utilization figure, so you can see what the loop consumes.

Lean Manufacturing & Operations calculator

Standard Work Combination Time Calculator

Add manual, machine and walk time into one combination cycle for a station, and see what it leaves against takt. Operator work counts only manual and walk time, because automatic machine time runs without the operator.

What this calculator does

Total combination cycle, operator work time and the gap to takt from manual, machine and walk times.

Formula used

Total combination time per cycle = manual work time + auto machine time + walk time
Operator work time = manual work time + walk time
Operator utilization = operator work time ÷ takt time × 100
Gap to takt = takt time − total combination time per cycle, negative when the cycle runs over takt

Inputs explained

Manual Work Time: Manual elements in one operator cycle, from the combination sheet.
Auto Machine Time: Machine run time inside one cycle that sets the pace.
Walk Time: Walking or travel time inside one operator cycle.
Takt Time: Seconds per unit that customer demand allows.

How to use the result

Best suited to building a combination sheet for a cell, checking an operator loop against takt, separating wait from work in a cycle.
Adding machine time to manual time overstates the cycle when the machine runs while the operator works elsewhere. The gap assumes the cycle repeats without variation; one long element can still miss takt.

Current U.S. benchmarks

U.S. manufacturing runs at 75.7% of capacity (Federal Reserve, Aug 2026). New factory orders are up 8.5% year over year (Census).

Common questions

What goes in auto machine time? The machine time inside one cycle that sets the pace, such as a cut, press stroke or oven dwell. Include it once per unit and leave setup and downtime out.
Why is operator work less than total cycle? Operator work is manual time plus walk time. Machine time adds to the cycle, but the operator is free while it runs, so utilization divides only the operator work by takt.
What does a negative gap mean? The cycle runs longer than takt, so the station misses the demand pace. Attack the largest element first, move work to a station under takt, or add capacity.
How does this relate to a yamazumi board? The board stacks the same elements as bars against takt. This tool reduces the stack to one cycle and adds the utilization figure, so you can see what the loop consumes.

Last reviewed 2026-10-01.