Capacity calculation with allowance

A task Cycle time 20, 

Allowance 13%

Calculate per hr capacity?

Let’s verify your calculation step by step:

Given:

Cycle Time = 20 seconds

Allowance = 13% = 0.13

Available Time per Hour = 3600 seconds

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Step 1: Adjusted Cycle Time

\text{Adjusted Cycle Time} = \text{Cycle Time} \times (1 + \text{Allowance})

\text{Adjusted Cycle Time} = 20 \times (1 + 0.13) = 20 \times 1.13 = 22.6 , \text{seconds} ]

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Step 2: Capacity per Hour

\text{Capacity per Hour} = \frac{\text{Available Time per Hour}}{\text{Adjusted Cycle Time}}

\text{Capacity per Hour} = \frac{3600}{22.6} \approx 159.29 ]

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Final Answer:

Yes, your calculation is correct! The capacity with a 13% allowance is approximately 159.29 units per hour.

The formula Adjusted Cycle Time = Cycle Time × (1 + Allowance) originates from work study principles in industrial engineering. It is a widely accepted method to account for allowances like fatigue, delays, and personal needs, ensuring realistic performance expectations. Here's the background:

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1. The Concept of Allowance

Allowance is a percentage added to the basic task time to account for non-productive time during work.

Examples:

Personal Time: Bathroom breaks, hydration, etc.

Fatigue: Physical or mental fatigue due to repetitive tasks.

Unavoidable Delays: Machine adjustments, tool changes, etc.

2. Origin in Time Studies

Time studies, introduced by Frederick W. Taylor (father of scientific management), measure how long it takes to perform a task under standard conditions.

Later, pioneers like Frank and Lillian Gilbreth incorporated allowances, recognizing that workers couldn't operate at full efficiency continuously.

3. Why Use (1 + Allowance)?

Without allowance: Cycle Time reflects the "ideal" or basic time to complete a task.

With allowance: The actual time needed per task increases.

\text{Adjusted Time} = \text{Basic Time} + \text{Allowance Time}

\text{Adjusted Time} = \text{Basic Time} \times (1 + \text{Allowance Percentage})

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Example:

If a task takes 20 seconds and there's a 10% allowance:

Basic Time = 20 seconds

Allowance Time = 20 X 0.10 seconds = 22 seconds 

Total Time = 20 + 2 = 22 seconds

Using the formula:  

20 X (1+0.10)=20+1.10 = 22seconds

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Significance in Practice

This formula ensures that realistic task expectations are set, balancing efficiency and worker well-being. It has been a cornerstone of industrial engineering for optimizing productivity while maintaining fairness.