Metal Recycling, Scrap Processing & Salvage worked example

Scrap Sort Labor at 12% setup, handling, and delay allowance: a worked example

This scenario runs the scrap sort labor calculation on the strong side: 12% setup, handling, and delay allowance, with every other input held at its documented default. Use it when scrap sort labor in metal recycling, scrap processing and salvage is being added to next week's schedule and you need an honest hours estimate.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Pieces to hand-sort this run: 120 units (unchanged)
  • Sorter throughput rate: 12 units / min (unchanged)
  • Setup, handling, and delay allowance: 12 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 10)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Base scrap sort labor time = scrap sort labor workload รท scrap sort labor completion rate) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 11.2 hr for required scrap sort labor time, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 10 hr for base scrap sort labor time.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 12 % for scrap sort labor allowance applied.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 12 pieces / min for scrap sort labor completion rate.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where setup, handling, and delay allowance sits at 10% and the headline result is 11 hr, this scenario comes in 1.82% above the baseline at 11.2 hr.
  • Use it to staff a sort shift, quote a hand-sort tolling job, or check whether an inbound load can be processed before the next pickup. 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

  • Required scrap sort labor time: 11.2 hr (headline result)
  • Base scrap sort labor time: 10 hr
  • Scrap sort labor allowance applied: 12 %
  • Scrap sort labor completion rate: 12 pieces / min

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Scrap Sort Labor calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.