cycle-time-analyzer
// Cycle time analysis and reduction skill with process timing, bottleneck identification, and flow improvement
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updated:March 4, 2026
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SKILL.md Frontmatter
namecycle-time-analyzer
descriptionCycle time analysis and reduction skill with process timing, bottleneck identification, and flow improvement
allowed-toolsRead,Write,Glob,Grep,Edit
metadata[object Object]
Cycle Time Analyzer
Overview
The Cycle Time Analyzer skill provides comprehensive capabilities for analyzing and reducing cycle times. It supports time and motion studies, takt time comparison, line balancing, and value stream cycle efficiency calculations.
Capabilities
- Time and motion study
- Cycle time distribution analysis
- Takt time comparison
- Line balancing analysis
- Bottleneck visualization
- Queue time identification
- Value stream cycle efficiency
- Improvement simulation
Used By Processes
- LEAN-001: Value Stream Mapping
- LEAN-005: Standard Work Documentation
- TOC-001: Constraint Identification and Exploitation
Tools and Libraries
- Time study software
- Process mining tools
- Simulation software
- Video analysis tools
Usage
skill: cycle-time-analyzer
inputs:
process: "Assembly Line A"
takt_time: 60 # seconds
workstations:
- name: "Station 1"
cycle_times: [55, 58, 52, 60, 57]
- name: "Station 2"
cycle_times: [62, 65, 63, 61, 64]
- name: "Station 3"
cycle_times: [48, 50, 47, 52, 49]
value_stream_data:
total_lead_time: 10 # days
value_added_time: 45 # minutes
outputs:
- cycle_time_summary
- bottleneck_analysis
- line_balance_chart
- improvement_recommendations
- cycle_efficiency
Cycle Time Components
| Component | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle Time | Total time to complete one unit | 60 seconds |
| Process Time | Time spent processing | 45 seconds |
| Queue Time | Time waiting in queue | 2 hours |
| Move Time | Time spent moving | 5 minutes |
| Setup Time | Time to changeover | 30 minutes |
Time Study Process
Step 1: Preparation
- Select process to study
- Break down work elements
- Prepare observation form
- Train observer
Step 2: Observation
- Multiple cycle observations
- Document each element
- Note abnormalities
- Capture variability
Step 3: Analysis
- Calculate averages
- Identify variation sources
- Compare to takt time
- Identify improvement opportunities
Line Balance Efficiency
Line Balance Efficiency = Sum of Cycle Times / (Number of Stations x Longest Cycle Time)
Example:
Station 1: 57 sec
Station 2: 63 sec
Station 3: 49 sec
Efficiency = (57 + 63 + 49) / (3 x 63) = 169 / 189 = 89.4%
Value Stream Cycle Efficiency
Cycle Efficiency = Value-Added Time / Total Lead Time
Example:
Value-Added Time: 45 minutes
Total Lead Time: 10 days = 14,400 minutes
Cycle Efficiency = 45 / 14,400 = 0.31%
Bottleneck Identification
Signs of a bottleneck:
- Longest cycle time
- WIP accumulation before station
- Downstream stations starved
- Overtime required
Improvement Strategies
| Strategy | Application |
|---|---|
| Eliminate | Remove non-value-added work |
| Combine | Merge small tasks |
| Rearrange | Optimize sequence |
| Simplify | Reduce complexity |
| Parallelize | Run tasks simultaneously |
| Automate | Use technology |
Integration Points
- Manufacturing Execution Systems
- Time tracking systems
- Simulation software
- ERP systems