Operations
Capacity & Throughput
Capacity is not the theoretical speed of one machine; it is the sustainable output of the constrained production system.
What this topic covers
What a capacity study should reveal.
Output can be limited by cycle time, uptime, changeovers, staffing, yield, material availability, inspection or downstream flow. Looking only at nameplate rate misses the system constraint.
- Separate demonstrated rate from assumed or theoretical rate.
- Quantify losses that consume available production time or effective output.
- Model the constraint and test whether proposed improvements actually move system capacity.
The useful answer is how much good product the system can reliably deliver—and what truly limits it.
Have a live problem in this area?
Bring the operating condition, evidence and constraint directly to SharpSigma.