How to Interpret Cycle Calculations

In Whiteboard cycles represent the time it takes for a machine/line to produce one unit of a product. For example, if a machine is bottling some soda, how long does it take for the machine to produce one bottle. Cycles is not the same as the number of parts that were made. In a given cycle, a machine could make eight parts but it only took one cycle. Cycle calculations come in many forms, each representing a variation in the cycle calculations.

Many cycle calculations in whiteboard will show the actual, expected and variance between these two calculations.

Before listing the calculations, here is a description of a few of the variables used for the calculations:

• Uptime - the amount of time the machine actually was up. ¹

• Scheduled - the amount of time the machine was expected to be up

• Total - the amount of parts that were actually made

• Expected - the amount of parts that were expected to be made

• Cycles - the amount of cycles that actually occurred (does NOT include unscheduled).

• Expected Cycles - the amount of cycles that were expected (includes unscheduled!) ²

Cycle Time [seconds per cycle]

1. Actual Cycle Time = Uptime [seconds] / Cycles

2. Expected Cycle Time = Scheduled [seconds] / Expected Cycles ²

3. Cycle Time Gauge = Actual Cycle Time - Expected Cycle Time

Strikes Per Hour (SPH) [cycles per hour]

1. Actual SPH = Cycles / Uptime [hours]

2. Expected SPH = Expected Cycles * / Scheduled [hours]

3. SPH Gauge = Actual SPH - Expected SPH

Strikes Per Minute (SPM) [cycles per minute]

1. Actual SPM = Cycles / Uptime [minutes]

2. Expected SPM = Expected Cycles ²/ Scheduled [minutes]

3. SPM Gauge = Actual SPM - Expected SPM

Part Cycle Time (PCT) [seconds per part]

1. Actual PCT = Uptime [seconds] / Total

2. Expected PCT = Scheduled [seconds ] / Expected

3. PCT Gauge = Actual PCT - Expected PCT

Parts Per Hour (PPH) [parts per hour]

1. Actual PPH = Total / Uptime [hours]

2. Expected PPH = Expected / Scheduled [hours]

3. PPH Gauge = Actual PPH - Expected PPH

Parts Per Minute (PPM) [parts per minute]

1. Actual PPM = Total / Uptime [minutes]

2. Expected PPM = Expected / Scheduled [minutes]

3. PPM Gauge = Actual PPM - Expected PPM

Blending different Job Rates and Cycle Factors

• [Fact Core].[Expected Production] is the Job rate. (see Analytics Data Dictionary)

• In a situation where cycle factor or job rate is changing (over longer reporting periods) or needs to be represented in the aggregate, consider using the out-of-the-box formula:

  • Job Cycle Factor = [Fact Core].[Expected Production] / [Fact Core].[Expected Cycles] *

¹ Note: Uptime technical definition:

1. Scheduled Time; AND

2. (Classification = Uptime OR Classification = Slow Running)

Classification comes from the ReasonState.

² Note: use a measure filter to remove unscheduled time from Expected Cycle field:

• Unscheduled Time - Understanding your Unscheduled Production metrics

• Use “Measured Value” filters to remove Unscheduled time from [Expected Cycles] Custom Filter