Calculating Daily Target using SAM Vs Cycle Time

Calculating the daily Production Target using Standard Allowed Minutes (SAM) versus Cycle Time involves understanding both metrics and how they affect your production planning. 

Calculating Daily Target using SAM Vs Cycle Time. Here’s a detailed guide:

1. Understanding SAM and Cycle Time

• SAM (Standard Allowed Minutes): This is the time allocated to complete one unit of work, considering all factors including worker’s pace, machine efficiency, and allowances for rest, fatigue, and delays.

• Cycle Time: This is the actual time it takes for an operator to complete one cycle of operation, which might differ from SAM due to various factors such as worker skill level, equipment performance, and process variability.

2. Formulas for Daily Target Calculation

Using SAM:

$\text{Daily Target}=\frac{\text{Total Available Minutes per Day }}{\text{SAM}}$

Using Cycle Time:

$\text{Daily Target}=\frac{\text{Total Available Minutes per Day }}{\text{Cycle Time}}$

3. Steps to Calculate Daily Target

Using SAM:

1. Determine Total Available Minutes:

   • Calculate the total working hours per day.
   • Convert hours into minutes.
   • Example: If working hours are 8 hours/day, then total available minutes are 
     $8 \times 60 = 480$

2. Determine SAM:

   • Suppose SAM is 30 minutes for a task.

3. Calculate Daily Target:
   $\text{Daily Target}=\frac{480}{30}=16\text{ units/day}$

Using Cycle Time:

1. Determine Total Available Minutes:

   • Use the same total available minutes as calculated above.

2. Determine Cycle Time:

   • Suppose the Cycle Time is 25 minutes for a task.

3. Calculate Daily Target:
   $\text{Daily Target}=\frac{480}{25}=19.2\approx 19\text{ units/day}$

4. Comparison and Adjustment

• Efficiency Considerations: If your cycle time is consistently lower than SAM, it indicates higher efficiency, and you might set higher targets. Conversely, if cycle time is higher than SAM, you may need to investigate inefficiencies.

• Adjust for Real-World Variability:

  • Consider allowances for breaks, machine downtimes, and other delays.
  • Adjust the total available minutes accordingly.

Example with Adjustments:

1. Available Minutes After Adjustments:

   • Suppose you allow 60 minutes for breaks and downtimes in an 8-hour shift.
   • Adjusted available minutes: 
     $480 - 60 = 420$

2. Calculate Daily Target Using SAM (Adjusted):
   $\text{Daily Target}=\frac{420}{30}=14\text{ units/day}$

3. Calculate Daily Target Using Cycle Time (Adjusted):
   $\text{Daily Target}=\frac{420}{25}=16.8\approx 17\text{ units/day}$

5. Practical Tips

• Monitor and Adjust Regularly: Continuously monitor both SAM and cycle time to adjust targets as needed.
• Improve Processes: Work on reducing cycle time through process improvements, training, and better resource management.
• Communicate Targets: Ensure all team members understand the targets and the basis for their calculation.

By following these steps and regularly analyzing the performance, you can set realistic and achievable daily production targets for your operations.