When does stopped changeover time end?

Use a consistent boundary through restart and the next accepted part. Include warmup, purging and first-piece approval when they keep the press from producing.

Is all changeover cost avoidable?

No. The result totals your entered direct costs. Savings require a measured reduction in stopped time or a documented change in charges.

Where does external preparation fit?

Preparation completed while the press runs is outside stopped press time. Budget its labor separately when the entered rate or rigging charge does not cover it.

Does the hourly rate include lost sales?

Use charged press and crew costs here. Estimate unrecovered contribution loss separately, and avoid counting the same cost in both analyses.

Tooling, Fixtures, Dies & Mold Economics calculator

Mold Changeover Cost Calculator

Budget a period of mold changes using measured stopped time. Enter the change count, combined press and crew rate, separately charged rigging and direct cost budget.

What this calculator does

Estimate direct mold changeover cost from stopped press time, the charged crew rate and separate rigging.

Formula used

Stopped press hours = changeovers × stopped minutes per changeover ÷ 60
Press and crew cost = stopped press hours × loaded press and crew rate
Total changeover cost = press and crew cost + separate rigging charge
All-in cost per changeover = total changeover cost ÷ changeovers
Budget headroom = period changeover budget − total changeover cost

Inputs explained

Planned Mold Changeovers: Whole mold exchanges planned in the selected period.
Stopped Minutes per Changeover: Measured stop through restart and the next accepted part.
Loaded Press and Crew Rate: Combined charged press and crew cost during the stop.
Separate Rigging Charge: Period crane and rigging charges excluded from the hourly rate.
Period Changeover Budget: Approved direct cost budget for these changes and rigging.

How to use the result

Best suited to mold changeover Budget, Quick-Change equipment comparison.
Lost contribution and customer delivery effects are excluded. External preparation labor must be budgeted separately if absent from the entered charges.

Current U.S. benchmarks

The producer price index for plastic resins and materials stands at 280.569 (BLS, Aug 2026), up 6.6% from a year earlier. Quotes priced off last quarter's material cost miss this move.
The U.S. has 14,378 furniture and related products establishments employing about 355,594 workers (Census County Business Patterns, 2023).

Common questions

When does stopped changeover time end? Use a consistent boundary through restart and the next accepted part. Include warmup, purging and first-piece approval when they keep the press from producing.
Is all changeover cost avoidable? No. The result totals your entered direct costs. Savings require a measured reduction in stopped time or a documented change in charges.
Where does external preparation fit? Preparation completed while the press runs is outside stopped press time. Budget its labor separately when the entered rate or rigging charge does not cover it.
Does the hourly rate include lost sales? Use charged press and crew costs here. Estimate unrecovered contribution loss separately, and avoid counting the same cost in both analyses.

Last reviewed 2026-10-06.