Understand how much output the system can sustainably deliver.
Production capacity is the sustainable amount of good output a system can deliver over a defined period. Real capacity depends on cycle time, uptime, changeovers, staffing, product mix, material supply, quality yield, and the active constraint.
Measure the system in terms production teams can act on.
Demand, cycle behavior, available time, good output, constraints, downtime, and actual production data should remain connected.
Use the metric to guide a decision, not just report a number.
Each measurement is useful only when it helps clarify capacity, flow, loss, scheduling, or improvement priorities.
CRIT-AStart with the Constraint
The system cannot sustainably exceed the effective capacity of its current limiting operation.
Related Guide →CRIT-BSubtract Real Losses
Downtime, setup, quality loss, maintenance, and slow cycles reduce practical capacity below theoretical output.
Related Guide →CRIT-CInclude Product Mix
Capacity changes when products have different cycle times, tooling, routing, or changeover requirements.
Related Guide →CRIT-DAvoid False Utilization
Keeping every machine busy can increase work-in-process without increasing system capacity.
Related Guide →Relevant production measurement resources.
References are selected from the approved TempoJS industrial link inventory.