Lean Manufacturing & Operations worked example

Yamazumi Chart Balance with value-adding work time of 15 sec: a worked example

This worked example runs the yamazumi chart balance numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: value-adding work time of 15 sec instead of the typical 30 sec. Sum value-adding work, incidental work, and waste time for one station to build a yamazumi (stacked bar) analysis showing how operator time is spent.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Value-adding work time: 15 sec (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 30)
  • Incidental work time: 12 sec (held at the documented default)
  • Waste time: 8 sec (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Total Station Time = Value-Adding + Incidental + Waste.
  • Total station time per cycle works out to 35 sec at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Element 1 works out to 15 sec at these inputs.
  • Element 2 works out to 12 sec at these inputs.
  • Element 3 + 4 works out to 8 sec at these inputs.

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 30% below the baseline at 35 sec.
  • Use it when building a Yamazumi chart for line balancing, running a kaizen to rebalance stations, or quantifying how much of a cycle is genuine value-add. 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

  • Total station time per cycle: 35 sec (headline result)
  • Element 1: 15 sec
  • Element 2: 12 sec
  • Element 3 + 4: 8 sec

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Yamazumi Chart Balance calculator, set value-adding work time to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.