Cycle Time Analysis
Compare process-step cycle times, expose the constraint, test takt alignment, adjust parallel capacity and evaluate which improvement actually changes system performance.
Improving cycle time starts with finding the system constraint.
This tool compares step-level cycle times with the pace required by demand, identifies the bottleneck, tests parallel capacity and shows whether an improvement changes total process capacity or only a local metric.
Cycle Time Analysis — Step by Step
Eight locked stages move from the process context through step cycle times, demand pace, parallel capacity, variability allowance, improvement focus, a constraint shock and management review.
Step Performance, Constraint and Capacity Alignment
Reveal the process context to begin.
Interpret local cycle time in the context of system capacity.
Build a Cycle-time Scenario
Experiment Mode is isolated from the guided demonstration. Select a step and change its cycle time, resource count, demand, available time and planning allowance.
Test cycle-time judgement.
Cycle-time analysis cues
Step Cycle Time
Average time required by one resource to complete one unit at a process step.
Effective Cycle Time
For genuinely parallel identical resources, effective pace is approximated as step cycle time ÷ resource count.
Bottleneck
The step with the slowest effective cycle time; it governs maximum system throughput.
Takt Comparison
A step slower than takt cannot independently keep pace with current demand.
Touch Time
Sum of step work times. Do not confuse touch time with end-to-end lead time that includes waiting.
Constraint Improvement
Improve the bottleneck, then reanalyse because another step may become the next constraint.
Use step cycle times to identify what actually limits throughput, compare capability with demand pace and avoid spending improvement effort where it cannot change system capacity.