Taktiaika

Taktiaika, known in English as takt time, is a concept in lean manufacturing used to synchronize production with customer demand. It represents the maximum time allowed to produce a unit in a given period so that the total output meets the required demand.

Calculation and example: taktiaika is calculated as available production time per period divided by customer demand during that period. Available time accounts for planned operating hours and any downtime, while demand is the number of units required in that period. For example, an 8-hour shift (480 minutes) with a demand of 180 units per shift yields a taktiaika of 480/180 ≈ 2.67 minutes per unit (about 2 minutes and 40 seconds).

Relation to cycle time and line balancing: cycle time is the actual time needed to complete a unit on a production line. In a balanced system, cycle time should be close to taktiaika. If cycle time exceeds taktiaika, production cannot meet demand and backlogs may form; if cycle time is shorter than taktiaika, there is slack that can absorb variability or quality checks.

Implementation and usage: to apply taktiaika, determine forecasted demand, establish the available operating time, and compute the taktiaika. Assess current process times and line balance, then adjust resource allocation, workstation design, or process sequencing to align with the taktiaika. Monitor performance and make iterative improvements.

Limitations and context: taktiaika assumes relatively stable demand and predictable line availability. When demand fluctuates or interruptions occur, safety margins, buffers, or flexible processes are required. Taktiaika is a core tool in lean manufacturing and the Toyota Production System and is widely used to structure production flow and Kanban systems.