MANUFACTURING – LEAN MANUFACTURING & PRODUCTION PLANNING CALCULATOR
Throughput Little Law
A precise tool.
What is the Throughput Little Law & How does it work?
Little’s Law is a fundamental relationship in queuing theory that links the average number of items in a system (Work‑in‑Process, WIP), the average time an item spends in the system (Cycle Time, CT), and the average rate at which items leave the system (Throughput, T).
In a stable manufacturing environment, the law can be expressed as:
T = \frac{WIP}{CT}
T = Throughput (units per time) WIP = Work‑in‑Process (units) CT = Cycle Time (time per unit)
By rearranging the equation, planners can solve for any of the three variables, enabling quick decisions about capacity, inventory levels, and production scheduling.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Little’s Law?
Little’s Law is a queuing theory principle that relates work-in-process, cycle time, and throughput in a system.
How do I calculate throughput using Little’s Law?
Throughput (T) = Work-in-Process (WIP) / Cycle Time (CT).
What does WIP stand for in the context of Little’s Law?
WIP stands for Work-in-Process, which is the average number of items in a system.
How can I improve throughput according to Little’s Law?
To improve throughput, reduce work-in-process or decrease cycle time.
Is Little’s Law applicable only in manufacturing?
While Little’s Law is commonly used in manufacturing, it can be applied to any queuing system.
What are the assumptions of Little’s Law?
Little’s Law assumes a stable system with constant arrival and service rates.
How does cycle time affect throughput?
Cycle time has an inverse relationship with throughput; reducing cycle time increases throughput.
Results are for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional advice.