Agent skill

takt-time-calculator

Takt time and cycle time analysis skill for production line balancing and capacity planning.

Stars 514
Forks 31

Install this agent skill to your Project

npx add-skill https://github.com/a5c-ai/babysitter/tree/main/library/specializations/domains/science/industrial-engineering/skills/takt-time-calculator

Metadata

Additional technical details for this skill

author
babysitter-sdk
version
1.0.0
category
lean-manufacturing
backlog id
SK-IE-010

SKILL.md

takt-time-calculator

You are takt-time-calculator - a specialized skill for calculating takt time, cycle time, and related metrics for production planning and line balancing.

Overview

This skill enables AI-powered takt time analysis including:

  • Takt time calculation from demand and available time
  • Cycle time measurement and analysis
  • Operator cycle time tracking
  • Takt time attainment monitoring
  • Pitch calculation for paced withdrawal
  • Planned cycle time with efficiency factors
  • Overtime and shift adjustment calculations

Prerequisites

  • Production demand data
  • Available working time information
  • Cycle time observations

Capabilities

1. Takt Time Calculation

python
def calculate_takt_time(customer_demand, available_time, time_unit='seconds'):
    """
    Takt Time = Available Production Time / Customer Demand

    Args:
        customer_demand: units required per period
        available_time: production time available in period
        time_unit: output unit ('seconds', 'minutes', 'hours')

    Returns:
        Takt time and related metrics
    """
    if customer_demand <= 0:
        raise ValueError("Customer demand must be positive")

    takt_seconds = available_time / customer_demand

    conversions = {
        'seconds': takt_seconds,
        'minutes': takt_seconds / 60,
        'hours': takt_seconds / 3600
    }

    return {
        "takt_time": conversions[time_unit],
        "time_unit": time_unit,
        "customer_demand": customer_demand,
        "available_time_seconds": available_time,
        "interpretation": f"Must complete 1 unit every {takt_seconds:.1f} seconds"
    }

def calculate_available_time(shift_length_hours, breaks_minutes,
                            planned_downtime_minutes, shifts_per_day):
    """
    Calculate net available production time
    """
    shift_seconds = shift_length_hours * 3600
    breaks_seconds = breaks_minutes * 60
    downtime_seconds = planned_downtime_minutes * 60

    net_per_shift = shift_seconds - breaks_seconds - downtime_seconds
    total_daily = net_per_shift * shifts_per_day

    return {
        "gross_time_per_shift": shift_seconds,
        "breaks_deduction": breaks_seconds,
        "planned_downtime": downtime_seconds,
        "net_available_per_shift": net_per_shift,
        "shifts_per_day": shifts_per_day,
        "total_daily_available": total_daily
    }

2. Cycle Time Analysis

python
import numpy as np
from scipy import stats

def analyze_cycle_times(observations):
    """
    Statistical analysis of observed cycle times
    """
    data = np.array(observations)

    analysis = {
        "count": len(data),
        "mean": np.mean(data),
        "median": np.median(data),
        "std": np.std(data, ddof=1),
        "min": np.min(data),
        "max": np.max(data),
        "range": np.max(data) - np.min(data),
        "cv": np.std(data, ddof=1) / np.mean(data) * 100  # Coefficient of variation
    }

    # Percentiles
    analysis["p5"] = np.percentile(data, 5)
    analysis["p95"] = np.percentile(data, 95)

    # Confidence interval for mean
    ci = stats.t.interval(0.95, len(data)-1,
                         loc=np.mean(data),
                         scale=stats.sem(data))
    analysis["ci_95"] = {"lower": ci[0], "upper": ci[1]}

    # Outlier detection (IQR method)
    q1, q3 = np.percentile(data, [25, 75])
    iqr = q3 - q1
    outliers = data[(data < q1 - 1.5*iqr) | (data > q3 + 1.5*iqr)]
    analysis["outliers"] = outliers.tolist()

    return analysis

def compare_to_takt(cycle_time_stats, takt_time):
    """
    Compare observed cycle times to takt time
    """
    mean_ct = cycle_time_stats['mean']
    p95_ct = cycle_time_stats['p95']

    comparison = {
        "takt_time": takt_time,
        "mean_cycle_time": mean_ct,
        "takt_attainment": takt_time / mean_ct * 100 if mean_ct > 0 else 0,
        "at_risk": mean_ct > takt_time * 0.9,
        "exceeds_takt": mean_ct > takt_time,
        "p95_vs_takt": p95_ct / takt_time * 100,
        "buffer_available": takt_time - mean_ct
    }

    if comparison["exceeds_takt"]:
        comparison["recommendation"] = "Cycle time exceeds takt - immediate improvement needed"
    elif comparison["at_risk"]:
        comparison["recommendation"] = "Cycle time near takt - limited buffer for variability"
    else:
        comparison["recommendation"] = "Healthy buffer exists below takt time"

    return comparison

3. Operator Cycle Time Tracking

python
class OperatorCycleTimeTracker:
    """
    Track and analyze operator cycle times
    """
    def __init__(self):
        self.observations = {}  # {operator_id: [observations]}

    def record_observation(self, operator_id, cycle_time, timestamp=None):
        if operator_id not in self.observations:
            self.observations[operator_id] = []

        self.observations[operator_id].append({
            "cycle_time": cycle_time,
            "timestamp": timestamp or datetime.now()
        })

    def analyze_operator(self, operator_id):
        obs = [o['cycle_time'] for o in self.observations.get(operator_id, [])]
        return analyze_cycle_times(obs) if obs else None

    def compare_operators(self):
        """Compare performance across operators"""
        comparison = {}

        for op_id in self.observations:
            stats = self.analyze_operator(op_id)
            if stats:
                comparison[op_id] = {
                    "mean": stats['mean'],
                    "cv": stats['cv'],
                    "count": stats['count']
                }

        # Rank by mean cycle time
        ranked = sorted(comparison.items(), key=lambda x: x[1]['mean'])

        return {
            "operator_stats": comparison,
            "ranked_by_speed": [op_id for op_id, _ in ranked],
            "best_performer": ranked[0][0] if ranked else None,
            "spread": ranked[-1][1]['mean'] - ranked[0][1]['mean'] if len(ranked) > 1 else 0
        }

4. Pitch Calculation

python
def calculate_pitch(takt_time, pack_quantity):
    """
    Pitch = Takt Time x Pack Quantity

    Pitch is the time interval for paced withdrawal
    (how often to move containers)
    """
    pitch_seconds = takt_time * pack_quantity

    return {
        "pitch_seconds": pitch_seconds,
        "pitch_minutes": pitch_seconds / 60,
        "takt_time": takt_time,
        "pack_quantity": pack_quantity,
        "withdrawals_per_hour": 3600 / pitch_seconds,
        "interpretation": f"Move {pack_quantity} units every {pitch_seconds/60:.1f} minutes"
    }

5. Planned Cycle Time

python
def calculate_planned_cycle_time(takt_time, efficiency_factors):
    """
    Planned Cycle Time accounts for expected inefficiencies

    efficiency_factors: dict with components like:
        - oee: Overall Equipment Effectiveness (0-1)
        - quality_rate: First pass yield (0-1)
        - availability: Machine availability (0-1)
    """
    total_efficiency = 1.0
    for factor, value in efficiency_factors.items():
        total_efficiency *= value

    planned_ct = takt_time * total_efficiency

    return {
        "takt_time": takt_time,
        "efficiency_factors": efficiency_factors,
        "combined_efficiency": total_efficiency,
        "planned_cycle_time": planned_ct,
        "buffer_percentage": (1 - total_efficiency) * 100,
        "interpretation": f"Target {planned_ct:.1f}s to achieve takt of {takt_time:.1f}s"
    }

6. Overtime and Shift Adjustments

python
def adjust_for_demand_changes(base_takt, base_demand, new_demand,
                              base_available_time, options):
    """
    Calculate adjustments needed for demand changes

    options: dict with available levers:
        - overtime_available: max overtime minutes per shift
        - additional_shifts: bool, can add shifts
        - weekends: bool, can work weekends
    """
    demand_ratio = new_demand / base_demand

    if demand_ratio <= 1:
        new_takt = base_takt / demand_ratio
        return {
            "action": "none_needed",
            "new_takt": new_takt,
            "demand_decrease": (1 - demand_ratio) * 100
        }

    # Need more capacity
    additional_time_needed = base_available_time * (demand_ratio - 1)

    solutions = []

    # Overtime option
    if options.get('overtime_available'):
        overtime_per_shift = options['overtime_available'] * 60  # to seconds
        shifts_needed = additional_time_needed / overtime_per_shift
        if shifts_needed <= 5:  # 5 day week
            solutions.append({
                "method": "overtime",
                "overtime_minutes_per_day": additional_time_needed / 60,
                "feasible": True
            })

    # Additional shift
    if options.get('additional_shifts'):
        solutions.append({
            "method": "additional_shift",
            "coverage_percentage": min(100, (base_available_time / additional_time_needed) * 100),
            "feasible": additional_time_needed <= base_available_time
        })

    # Weekend work
    if options.get('weekends'):
        solutions.append({
            "method": "weekend_work",
            "days_needed": additional_time_needed / base_available_time,
            "feasible": True
        })

    return {
        "demand_increase_percent": (demand_ratio - 1) * 100,
        "additional_time_needed_hours": additional_time_needed / 3600,
        "solutions": solutions,
        "new_takt_with_increase": base_available_time / new_demand
    }

Process Integration

This skill integrates with the following processes:

  • standard-work-development.js
  • line-balancing-analysis.js
  • value-stream-mapping-analysis.js

Output Format

json
{
  "takt_analysis": {
    "customer_demand": 460,
    "available_time_hours": 7.5,
    "takt_time_seconds": 58.7,
    "takt_time_formatted": "58.7 sec/unit"
  },
  "cycle_time_comparison": {
    "observed_mean": 52.3,
    "observed_std": 4.2,
    "takt_attainment_percent": 112.2,
    "buffer_seconds": 6.4
  },
  "status": "healthy",
  "recommendations": [
    "Current cycle time provides adequate buffer",
    "Monitor variability to maintain performance"
  ]
}

Best Practices

  1. Use net available time - Subtract breaks, meetings, maintenance
  2. Include variability - Don't design to exact takt
  3. Update regularly - Recalculate when demand changes
  4. Visual displays - Post takt time at workstations
  5. Multiple observations - Get statistically valid cycle times
  6. Consider all products - May need product-specific takts

Constraints

  • Takt time is a target, not a fixed rule
  • Account for product mix when applicable
  • Document all time assumptions
  • Review when demand patterns change

Expand your agent's capabilities with these related and highly-rated skills.

a5c-ai/babysitter

gsd-tools

Central utility skill for GSD operations. Provides config parsing, slug generation, timestamps, path operations, and orchestrates calls to other specialized skills. Acts as the unified entry point that the original gsd-tools.cjs provided via its lib/ modules (commands, config, core, init).

514 31
Explore
a5c-ai/babysitter

model-profile-resolution

Resolve model profile (quality/balanced/budget) at orchestration start and map agents to specific models. Enables cost/quality tradeoffs by selecting appropriate AI models for each agent role.

514 31
Explore
a5c-ai/babysitter

verification-suite

Plan structure validation, phase completeness checks, reference integrity verification, and artifact existence confirmation. Provides the structured verification layer ensuring GSD artifacts are well-formed and complete.

514 31
Explore
a5c-ai/babysitter

state-management

STATE.md reading, writing, and field-level updates. Provides cross-session state persistence via .planning/STATE.md with structured fields for current task, completed phases, blockers, decisions, and quick tasks.

514 31
Explore
a5c-ai/babysitter

git-integration

Git commit patterns, formats, and conventions for GSD methodology. Provides atomic commits per task, structured commit messages, planning file commits, branch management, and milestone tag operations.

514 31
Explore
a5c-ai/babysitter

frontmatter-parsing

YAML frontmatter parsing and manipulation for .planning/ documents. Provides read, write, update, query, and validation operations on frontmatter blocks in GSD markdown artifacts.

514 31
Explore

Didn't find tool you were looking for?

Be as detailed as possible for better results