Queue Time

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  A queue is often compared to a line.  A queue can be associated with any item, person or service that spends any amount of time in a line before work begins.  With this in mind, queue time is the amount of time that an item, order or job waits before any work is performed.  It is important to note also that queue time occurs before setup time.

Queue time sometimes referred to as wait time often takes up more than 80 percent of a jobs total time.  Queue time is also one component of the total manufacturing lead time and if the queue time increases it will cause an increase in work in process inventory as well as an organization's overall or total lead time.

Example

• During the holiday season customers are asked to take a number and wait to purchase their chocolates.  After the customer has taken their number they then stand in line until it is their turn.  This is one example of people standing in queue.  Likewise, the amount of time they stand waiting for their chocolates is the queue time.  

Improvement Opportunities

•  Queue time can generally take up more than 80% of the total lead time in many different factories.  Finding and reducing these queue points can significantly improve throughput.

Learn more about reducing queue time online!