The time it takes for equipment to complete a repetitive operation is referred to as ________.

The time it takes for equipment to complete a repetitive operation is referred to as ________.

• A. Cycle time
• B. Throughput
• C. Run time
• D. Efficiency

Answer: (A)

Cycle time is the time it takes to complete one full cycle of a repetitive operation. It’s measured from the moment a cycle starts to the moment it’s ready to start the next one. In earthmoving terms, imagine a loader digging a scoop, moving it to a dump area, unloading, and returning to the starting position—the clock stops when the machine is back and ready for the next scoop. This timing sets how fast production can progress: shorter cycle times mean more cycles per hour and thus higher output. It’s related to throughput (which is how many cycles or units you finish in a given time), but cycle time itself is the duration of a single cycle. Run time is just the actual running time during a cycle, and efficiency compares actual output to what was planned or standard. So the time to complete a repetitive operation is cycle time.

Cycle time is the time it takes to complete one full cycle of a repetitive operation. It’s measured from the moment a cycle starts to the moment it’s ready to start the next one. In earthmoving terms, imagine a loader digging a scoop, moving it to a dump area, unloading, and returning to the starting position—the clock stops when the machine is back and ready for the next scoop. This timing sets how fast production can progress: shorter cycle times mean more cycles per hour and thus higher output. It’s related to throughput (which is how many cycles or units you finish in a given time), but cycle time itself is the duration of a single cycle. Run time is just the actual running time during a cycle, and efficiency compares actual output to what was planned or standard. So the time to complete a repetitive operation is cycle time.