Which term refers to the total time required to complete a part from start to finish?

Which term refers to the total time required to complete a part from start to finish?

• A. Cycle time
• B. Lead time
• C. Processing time
• D. Throughput

Answer: (A)

Cycle time is the total time required to complete a part from the moment processing starts to the moment it finishes. It represents the full duration of producing one part in a production cycle, including setup, machining, and any movement or waiting between steps. That makes it the best fit for describing the total time from start to finish. For context, lead time refers to the entire duration from when a customer order is placed to when the finished part is delivered, including queues and other orders. Processing time is only the actual time the part spends being machined, not counting setup or handling. Throughput is a rate—how many parts are produced per unit of time—rather than a duration.

Cycle time is the total time required to complete a part from the moment processing starts to the moment it finishes. It represents the full duration of producing one part in a production cycle, including setup, machining, and any movement or waiting between steps. That makes it the best fit for describing the total time from start to finish.

For context, lead time refers to the entire duration from when a customer order is placed to when the finished part is delivered, including queues and other orders. Processing time is only the actual time the part spends being machined, not counting setup or handling. Throughput is a rate—how many parts are produced per unit of time—rather than a duration.