Cycle time is the average amount of time it takes to complete a process in a specific environment. A good example of cycle time might be the time it takes for product to move from the manufacturing floor to its shipping destination. In this case, the cycle time would measure the amount of time taken for the product to move from the start of production to the final delivery location.
Another example of cycle time in the restaurant industry would be the time taken from when a customer places their order to when they receive their meal. In this case, the cycle time might measure the time taken to prepare the meal, deliver the meal to the customer, and any other intermediate steps in the entire process.
Cycle time can also be used in other industries, such as the healthcare industry. For instance, a doctor’s office can measure their cycle time to understand how quickly they are able to diagnose, treat, and discharge patients.
Being able to measure, analyze, and reduce the amount of cycle time it takes to complete a process can lead to cost savings and increased efficiency. As such, it’s important for businesses to understand and monitor their cycle time, and work to optimize it whenever possible.
