Actual cycle time

Actual cycle time is the machine time genuinely measured during a production run, logged for a specific operation or part, as opposed to the cycle time estimated during pre-calculation or theoretically calculated from feeds and speeds. It's one of the core production actuals compared against the estimate during post-calculation.

Why a single actual cycle time reading needs context

Actual cycle time can differ from the estimated cycle time for many reasons: material variation, tool wear, an operator adjustment, or a genuinely inaccurate original estimate, which is why a single actual cycle time reading needs context before it's used to correct future estimates.

Where actual cycle time is recorded

Not on the drawing; it's recorded in a factory's MES or ERP system during and after production, tied to a specific operation and part.

Common mistakes

Treating every actual cycle time reading as equally representative; a one-off disruption (a tool change, an operator interruption) can produce an actual cycle time that doesn't reflect the process's normal, repeatable performance.

Is actual cycle time the same as cycle time?

Cycle time can refer to the concept generally, including an estimate; actual cycle time specifically means the measured, real value from a production run.

Why would actual cycle time differ from the estimate?

Material variation, tool wear, operator adjustments, or an inaccurate original estimate can all cause a difference between estimated and actual cycle time.

What is actual cycle time used for?

Comparing it against the pre-calculation estimate during post-calculation, to check and improve the accuracy of future estimates.