Changeovertid

Changeovertid is a term used in industrial engineering and process management to denote the total time required to complete a changeover from one product or process configuration to another. The term is a portmanteau of changeover and time and is used to discuss setup efficiency and line productivity. Changeover time includes all activities involved in the transition, such as preparation, tool and die changes, equipment reconfiguration, calibration, testing, and any downtime associated with the change. It is typically recorded per changeover event and can be expressed in minutes or hours, or as minutes per unit, depending on the context.

In production management, changeovertid is a key metric for evaluating flexibility and responsiveness. It is closely associated with SMED (Single-Minute Exchange of Die) concepts, which seek to reduce changeover time by separating external setup tasks from internal ones, standardizing tools and procedures, and enabling parallel work streams. Reducing changeovertid is often pursued alongside reductions in cycle time and improvements in overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

In practice, organizations use changeovertid data to inform scheduling, capacity planning, and maintenance planning. A lower changeover time allows for smaller lot sizes, more product variety, and faster reactions to demand shifts, but must be balanced against quality control and safety considerations. See also: SMED, setup time, OEE.