Lean Manufacturing & Operations worked example

Yamazumi Chart Balance with value-adding work time of 75 sec: a worked example

What does the result look like when value-adding work time reaches 75 sec? The full calculation is worked below with real intermediate numbers. Use this calculator when constructing yamazumi charts to visualize value-adding vs. non-value-adding time at each workstation and identify waste reduction targets.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Value-adding work time: 75 sec (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 30)
  • Incidental work time: 12 sec (unchanged)
  • Waste time: 8 sec (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Total Station Time = Value-Adding + Incidental + Waste) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 95 sec for total station time per cycle, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 75 sec for element 1.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 12 sec for element 2.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 8 sec for element 3 + 4.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where value-adding work time sits at 30 sec and the headline result is 50 sec, this scenario comes in 90% above the baseline at 95 sec.
  • A figure at this level is achievable when value-adding work time is genuinely sustained, not just peaked for a shift. The total alone does not tell you whether the station fits takt or how to redistribute; you must compare each station's stack against takt and against neighboring stations.

Results at a glance

  • Total station time per cycle: 95 sec (headline result)
  • Element 1: 75 sec
  • Element 2: 12 sec
  • Element 3 + 4: 8 sec

Run it with your numbers

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

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.