Definition The time it takes to complete one run of a process from start to finish.
Example Packing an order that starts at 9:00 and finishes at 9:12 has a cycle time of 12 minutes.
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Why it matters Shorter cycle times mean faster delivery and happier customers.
Where it is used Operations dashboards and process improvement projects.
How to calculate it Process end time − process start time
Worked example Packing an order that starts at 9:00 and finishes at 9:12 has a cycle time of 12 minutes.