The cycle time distribution

Abstract

Cycle time is the total elapsed time to move a unit of work from the beginning to the end of a physical process. It is a variable that is used to reduce the costs and increase the output of the physical process. In this note, the exact probability distribution of the cycle time variable is derived. Exact expressions are provided for its probability density function and moments. It is shown how these results could be used for cycle time reduction. Finally, a computer program and tabulations are provided for the associated percentage points.

Keywords:

• Statistics
• Statistical methods

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Editor-in-Chief and the referees for careful reading of the manuscript and for their comments which greatly improved the paper.