Metal Recycling, Scrap Processing & Salvage worked example

Scrap Sort Labor at 7.2% setup, handling, and delay allowance: a worked example

This worked example runs the scrap sort labor numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: 7.2% setup, handling, and delay allowance instead of the typical 10%. Estimate scrap sort labor for metal recycling, scrap processing and salvage using production-ready inputs so teams can plan labor hours, schedule the work, or check whether the job fits the available shift time.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Pieces to hand-sort this run: 120 units (held at the documented default)
  • Sorter throughput rate: 12 units / min (held at the documented default)
  • Setup, handling, and delay allowance: 7.2 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 10)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Base scrap sort labor time = scrap sort labor workload รท scrap sort labor completion rate.
  • Required scrap sort labor time works out to 10.72 hr at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Base scrap sort labor time works out to 10 hr at these inputs.
  • Scrap sort labor allowance applied works out to 7.2 % at these inputs.
  • Scrap sort labor completion rate works out to 12 pieces / min at these inputs.

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 2.55% below the baseline at 10.72 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. 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

  • Required scrap sort labor time: 10.72 hr (headline result)
  • Base scrap sort labor time: 10 hr
  • Scrap sort labor allowance applied: 7.2 %
  • Scrap sort labor completion rate: 12 pieces / min

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Scrap Sort Labor calculator, set setup, handling, and delay allowance to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.