paketime

Paketime is a metric used in manufacturing and logistics to denote the time required to package an item or batch of items, from the start of packaging to the moment it is sealed and ready for shipment. The scope of paketime can vary by organization, but it typically excludes picking, assembly, and other upstream activities unless explicitly included in the measurement. The metric is used to assess productivity, plan capacity, and model warehouse throughput.

Paketime is typically measured through time studies, stopwatch observations, or automated data capture from packaging lines. Values are reported as a per-unit time (e.g., seconds per unit) or as a pack rate (units per hour). Data can be stratified by SKU, packaging type, operator, or shift. Because it reflects both process and product characteristics, paketime often follows a learning curve and varies with batch size, packaging complexity, and automation level.

Applications include capacity planning, labor budgeting, cost estimation, and bottleneck analysis. Paketime is used alongside other metrics such as cycle time and throughput to identify opportunities to balance lines, reduce handling, or redesign packaging.

Optimization strategies include standardizing packaging, pre-assembling components, adopting automatic or semi-automatic packaging equipment, and routing to stable workflows. Packaging design that minimizes handling and waste can lower paketime and improve overall fulfillment speed.

Because terminology and methodology differ across industries, some organizations use "pack time" or "packaging time" instead of "paketime." Paketime measurements should be documented with clear scope definitions, including what is included or excluded and whether handling or labeling steps are counted.