Free template
Time study sheet
A time study measures how long each element of a job takes by timing it over a number of cycles, then turns the times into a standard time: the time a trained operator needs at a normal pace, with allowances for personal needs, fatigue and delays. The results feed standard work, line balancing and comparisons with takt time. Page 1 of this template is the observation sheet, with up to 12 elements by 10 cycles and columns for the lowest repeatable time, average, rating, normal time, allowance and standard time. Page 2 explains the calculation with a worked example and has room for irregularities and your site's allowances. The Excel version works out the average, lowest repeatable, normal and standard time, units per hour and the comparison with takt.
Free to use: print it, copy it and edit it for your team. Enter your name and work email once to download.
When to use it
When to use a time study sheet
- To set or check a standard time before writing standard work or balancing a line.
- To compare stations with takt time and find the bottleneck.
- Before and after a kaizen, to measure the change in cycle time.
- When a product, method or layout changes and the old times no longer fit.
How to fill it in
- 1
Split the job into elements
Watch a few cycles first. Break the job into elements of a few seconds or more, each ending at a point you can see or hear, and write the end point down.
- 2
Time 10 cycles
Time each element in each cycle. If something interrupts a cycle, leave that time out and note it under irregularities.
- 3
Find the average and lowest repeatable
Average the good cycles. The lowest repeatable time is the lowest time that came up at least twice.
- 4
Rate the pace
Give each element a rating: 100% is a normal, steady pace as your site defines it.
- 5
Work out normal and standard time
Normal time = average × rating ÷ 100. Standard time = normal time × (1 + allowance). Your site sets the allowance.
- 6
Compare with takt
Add up the elements for the standard time per cycle and compare it with takt time. The Excel version shows it as a percentage of takt.
A filled-in example
Illustrative, not a benchmarkAn example with illustrative numbers: one element of an assembly job, timed over 10 cycles.
- Element: fasten four screws, ending when the driver is back in its holder.
- Times in seconds: 11, 12, 10, 12, 11, 10, 13, 11, 12 and 11. The average is 11.3, and the lowest repeatable is 10, as it came up twice.
- A rating of 95% gives a normal time of 11.3 × 0.95 = 10.7 seconds.
- With an allowance of 15%, an example figure, the standard time is 10.7 × 1.15 = 12.3 seconds.
The same steps for every element give the standard time per cycle, which the team compares with takt before balancing the line. The 15% allowance is only an example: use the one your site has set.
Common mistakes
Elements with no clear end point
If the observer is not sure where an element ends, the times drift. Write the end point next to each element.
Timing through interruptions
A dropped part or a question from someone inflates the average. Leave the cycle out and note why.
Too few cycles
Three cycles can hide a lot of variation. Time at least 10, and more if the times jump around.
Timing a new or rushed operator
Time a trained operator working at a steady pace, and tell them what you are doing and why.
Mixing machine and operator time
Time them apart. Machine time does not get a rating or the same allowances.
Download the template
Free to use: print it, copy it and edit it for your team. Enter your name and work email once to download.
Run this template in LeanSuite
LeanSuite's Vision AI does the time study from one phone video of the process: it times every element, splits each operator's time into value-added, semi-value-added and non-value-added, and links each figure to its video frame for you to review and certify.
In the lean glossary
Free tools
FAQ
Time study sheet: common questions
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