Rare Earth Magnet & Motor Materials worked example

Furnace Utilization at 61% target furnace utilization: a worked example in rare earth magnet & motor materials

This worked example runs the furnace utilization numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: 61% target furnace utilization instead of the typical 85%. Measure furnace utilization for Rare Earth Magnet & Motor Materials — hours in use as a percentage of hours available.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Sintering furnace running hours: 320 hr (held at the documented default)
  • Furnace hours scheduled and available: 400 hr (held at the documented default)
  • Target furnace utilization: 61 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 85)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Utilization = hours in use ÷ hours available.
  • Utilization works out to 80 % at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Gap to target works out to -19 points at these inputs.
  • Used amount works out to 320 value at these inputs.
  • Available amount works out to 400 value at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where target furnace utilization sits at 85% and the headline result is 80 %, this scenario lands almost exactly on the baseline at 80 %.
  • Use it weekly or per period when reviewing furnace scheduling, evaluating a claimed capacity constraint, or building the case for a second furnace or an added shift. 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

  • Utilization: 80 % (headline result)
  • Gap to target: -19 points
  • Used amount: 320 value
  • Available amount: 400 value

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Furnace Utilization calculator, set target furnace utilization to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.