MedTech Manufacturing worked example

Sterilization Cycle Time at 14% loading and documentation allowance: a worked example

This worked example runs the sterilization cycle time numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: 14% loading and documentation allowance instead of the typical 20%. Estimate total sterilization cycle time including preconditioning, exposure, aeration/cooling, and post-cycle handling.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Sterilization process steps: 5 steps (held at the documented default)
  • Steps completed per hour: 0.4 steps / hr (held at the documented default)
  • Loading and documentation allowance: 14 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 20)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Base sterilization cycle time = sterilization process steps รท steps completed per hour.
  • Total sterilization cycle time works out to 14.25 hr at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Process time (no handling) works out to 12.5 hr at these inputs.
  • Loading and documentation time added works out to 14 % at these inputs.
  • Steps completed per hour works out to 0.4 pieces / min at these inputs.

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 5% below the baseline at 14.25 hr.
  • Use it when planning sterilizer scheduling, estimating batch release lead time, or sizing how many cycles a sterilizer can run per day. 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 sterilization cycle time: 14.25 hr (headline result)
  • Process time (no handling): 12.5 hr
  • Loading and documentation time added: 14 %
  • Steps completed per hour: 0.4 pieces / min

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Sterilization Cycle Time calculator, set loading and documentation allowance to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.