What Is Throughput Time: Why It Matters in Manufacturing
You know how many jobs are open. You know what’s been shipped. But do you know how long it takes, on average, to complete a job from start to finish? That’s your throughput time—and it’s one of the clearest indicators of how well your production floor is functioning. With the right ERP tools, it becomes more than a statistic. It becomes a lever you can use to improve delivery, efficiency, and profitability.
What Is Throughput Time?
Throughput time is the total time it takes to move a job from the start of production to the moment it’s ready for shipment. It includes everything—not just cutting, assembly, or packaging steps, but also time spent waiting, moving, inspecting, or sitting in queue.
Every stage counts:
- Setup time
- Actual process time
- Wait time between operations
- Inspection or hold steps
Unlike lead time, which includes pre-production activities like quoting or purchasing, throughput time focuses specifically on in-plant production. It gives a true picture of how efficiently work moves through your shop.
The Role of Throughput Time in Production Efficiency
High throughput time can be a red flag for hidden inefficiencies. If work is sitting too long in queue or moving slowly between steps, jobs take longer, delivery promises become harder to meet, and your floor may appear busier than it truly is.
Tracking throughput time helps improve:
- Scheduling accuracy – Know how long jobs actually take, not just how long they should
- Production capacity – Identify how much real output can be delivered in a period
- WIP control – Spot aging jobs that may be stalled or forgotten
Because throughput includes both value-add and non-value-add time, it reveals where you’re spending labor—and where you’re losing it.
Tracking Throughput Time in Cetec ERP
Cetec ERP gives you visibility into throughput time at every stage. Key tools include:
- Work order views – Show open/close dates and time between steps
- Audit logs – Record operator actions, job transitions, and status changes
- Performance dashboards – Surface throughput metrics by product, customer, or work center
- Labor scan records – Operators log time at each step with barcode scans or badge entries
These tools provide a full picture of how long jobs take, who worked on them, and where slowdowns may occur.
Best Practices for Managing and Reducing Throughput
Once you can see throughput time, you can begin improving it. Inside Cetec ERP, teams can:
- Monitor WIP aging – Identify and prioritize jobs with excessive time in queue
- Analyze labor utilization – See where time is spent vs. where it’s needed
- Refine routing steps – Remove unnecessary operations or duplicate entries
- Streamline inspection – Adjust quality check locations or documentation flow
Small changes—like merging redundant steps or reducing handoffs—can significantly reduce throughput and improve delivery performance.
Key Takeaways
- Throughput time spans the entire production process
- High throughput times can signal hidden inefficiencies
- Cetec ERP tools help you surface and act on throughput trends
Throughput time gives you a reality check on your shop floor performance. It doesn’t just show how much you produce—it shows how efficiently you produce it. With real-time tracking and clear visibility inside Cetec ERP, your team can take action to reduce waste, improve flow, and meet customer expectations more consistently.
Don’t let production slowdowns hide in plain sight. Use Cetec ERP to uncover your actual throughput times and take steps toward a faster, more responsive operation. Explore throughput tracking features in Cetec ERP