MedTech Manufacturing worked example

Sterilization Cycle Time at 23% loading and documentation allowance: a worked example

This scenario runs the sterilization cycle time calculation on the strong side: 23% loading and documentation allowance, with every other input held at its documented default. Use this when scheduling sterilizer slots, comparing EO vs. gamma cycle times, or estimating lead time impact of sterilization on product availability.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Sterilization process steps: 5 steps (unchanged)
  • Steps completed per hour: 0.4 steps / hr (unchanged)
  • Loading and documentation allowance: 23 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 20)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Base sterilization cycle time = sterilization process steps รท steps completed per hour) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 15.38 hr for total sterilization cycle time, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 12.5 hr for process time (no handling).
  • At this operating point the engine returns 23 % for loading and documentation time added.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0.4 pieces / min for steps completed per hour.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where loading and documentation allowance sits at 20% and the headline result is 15 hr, this scenario comes in 2.5% above the baseline at 15.38 hr.
  • Use it when planning sterilizer scheduling, estimating batch release lead time, or sizing how many cycles a sterilizer can run per day. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Total sterilization cycle time: 15.38 hr (headline result)
  • Process time (no handling): 12.5 hr
  • Loading and documentation time added: 23 %
  • Steps completed per hour: 0.4 pieces / min

Run it with your numbers

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

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.