A cycle is a serious of operations repeated systematically to get the desired result. On the other hand, cycle time is the ample time required to complete a cycle. Cycle time represents time that is needed to complete a process. This is mainly applied in manufacturing process and performing activities that requires fixed time to get the desired result. In quality control, time is defined for every activity in the process. This ensures that each activity is accorded enough time for a complete conversion or processing. In standard operations, cycle time is calculated as working hours per day/daily quantity required. It acts as a road map that helps an organization to reduce waste and costs.
Quality control involves controlling processes in the organization to guarantee the outcomes are predictable. Cycle time is one of the techniques that are used to ensure that the outcome of a process are predictable. This has great significance in ensuring quality in the manufacturing and delivery of process. This is applied in market sectors like operations, manufacturing and delivery of goods in the market (Northey & Southway, 1993). Cycle time ensures consistency, reliability and conformance. Consistency means that products produced under the same process are of the same value. The component and quality of product is maintained since they are produced under the same cycle time. This ensures uniformity of the produced products. Reliability ensures that the process is fit for its purpose. Each activity is confined to last for specified time. This time is stipulated in a way that it will produce desired results. Hence, cycle time ensures that the results of a process are reliable. On the other hand, conformance means that the result of a process will produce desired result in accordance to the set standard. Each organization has policies and standard that regulates the level of quality of services and products. Cycle time for each process ensures that the results conform to these standards. Cycle time ensures that every activity is performed satisfactorily and satisfies the intended purpose (Kersten, 2008).
The goal of cycle time is to ensure that an organization achieves competitive advantage by developing optimal processes for producing quality products. The time assigned to each activity in a manufacturing process is meant to produce optimal results. This ensures that there is no idle time in the processing activity. This is significance to the organization since it reduces wastage of time hence efficiency use of resources. Optimal cycle time ensures that there is reduced cycle time, which ensures that that processes that do not add value to a product are eliminated. This helps the organization to maximize efficiency since the plant design does not have room for wastage (Mukherjee, 2006).
Cycle time also help to create good relations between the organization and the customers. This is because the products manufactured are consistence and responds to the needs of the customers. The organization will also be able to manage the inventory, delivery system and material management. This will keep the supply system stable hence ensuring no shortages in the market. The management is able to monitor the market since it has assigned cycle time to each activity involved in delivering services to the customers. Cycle time also helps the organization to focus on zero defect manufacturing process. It ensures that activity are not over done or under done (Kersten, 2008). This will eliminate wastage of resources and reworking caused by production of defect goods. This ensures quality product or services are produced at end of each process.
References
Kersten, W. (2008). Global Logistics Management: Sustainability, Quality, Risks. Berlin:
Schmidt.
Mukherjee, P. N. (2006). Total quality management. New Delhi: Prentice-Hall of India.
Northey, P., & Southway, N. (1993). Cycle time management: The fast track to time-based
productivity improvement. Cambridge, Mass: Productivity Press.
