Takt time vs cycle time vs lead time: calculate the right clock
A worked shift example separates customer pace, observed process speed and end-to-end delivery time, with practical checks before changing the line.
Pareto chart
A ranked view of categories by a chosen measure, often with cumulative share.
For downtime, rank by duration and frequency separately because frequent short stops and rare long failures imply different work. The chart depends on non-overlapping time boundaries and usable cause codes. It does not replace review of safety consequences or constraint effects. Use the downtime guide and event worksheet.
See also: OEE · Root-cause analysis (RCA)
Use the concept: Downtime log template · SMED changeover observation template · Takt time calculator
In depth
SMED changeover study: measure last good to first good
Use a time observation sheet to separate internal and external work, preserve safe setup steps, and verify a repeatable changeover improvement.
Automation ROI and payback: a business case operations can verify
Separate installed cost, cash savings, released capacity and recurring expenses, then test a conservative scenario before approving automation.