Use the Line Balancing forms to compare the cycle time for multiple operations on a process map or a value stream map against the takt time.

The Line Balancing - Process Map and the Line Balancing - VSM forms are useful when you try to balance either a cell or a sequential series of process steps. It highlights the waste of waiting.

Ideally, cycle times should be similar and should be at, or slightly below, takt time. If you want to use these tools to balance a line for a proposed cell, you must first create or edit a process map to include those steps.

For more information, go to Add and complete a form.

How-to

To use a Line Balancing - Process Map, you must first create or edit a process map to include those steps. To use a Line Balancing - VSM, you must first create or edit a value stream map to include those steps.

  1. Create or edit a process map or a value stream map to include cycle time and takt time.
  2. To add operations, hold the pointer on the column, select the add/delete button.
    • For Line Balancing - Process Map, choose Select Existing Activities.
    • For Line Balancing - VSM, choose Select Existing VSM Shape Data.
    The bar chart displays the cycle time and the takt time for each operation.
  3. Enter "what-if" cycle times for the operations, then view a bar chart that compares the actual values and the what-if values.
    Note

    If you enter a value in the optional What-If Cycle Time column, the tools compare this cycle time to both the original cycle time and to the takt time.

  4. If daily production is different for each operation, you can enter it in the table.
  5. Under Summary, you can enter a description of the what-if changes or suggest future activities.