Quality worked example

Rolled Throughput Yield at 71% step 1 yield: a worked example

Here is what the math looks like when conditions slip. We hold every other input steady and drop step 1 yield to 71%, then walk the calculation through step by step. Calculate total process yield by multiplying yield across sequential operations.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Step 1 yield: 71 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 98)
  • Step 2 yield: 97 % (held at the documented default)
  • Step 3 yield: 99 % (held at the documented default)
  • Step 4 yield: 96 % (held at the documented default)
  • Input units: 10,000 units (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: RTY = step 1 yield × step 2 yield × step 3 yield × step 4 yield.
  • Rolled throughput yield works out to 65.45 % at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Final good units works out to 6,545 units at these inputs.
  • Total loss works out to 3,455 units at these inputs.
  • Compounded loss rate works out to 34.55 % at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where step 1 yield sits at 98% and the headline result is 90.35 %, this scenario comes in 27.55% below the baseline at 65.45 %.
  • The practical read: the gap between this scenario and the baseline is entirely attributable to step 1 yield, so recovering it is worth quantifying in dollars before considering equipment or staffing changes. RTY assumes step yields are independent; if a defect at one step systematically causes failures downstream, the true loss can differ from the simple product.

Results at a glance

  • Rolled throughput yield: 65.45 % (headline result)
  • Final good units: 6,545 units
  • Total loss: 3,455 units
  • Compounded loss rate: 34.55 %

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Rolled Throughput Yield calculator, set step 1 yield to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.