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Standard Work Combination Sheet Worksheet (Manual, Auto and Walk Time)

The standard work combination sheet shows how a person's manual work, the machine's automatic cycle and the walking fit together in one cycle. This worksheet records those times element by element and totals the operator's cycle so you can compare it with takt time.

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Step	Work element	Type	Manual time (sec)	Machine auto time (sec)	Walk time (sec)	Operator time (sec)
						10
						2
						17
						11
						10
						11

Total manual time (sec)

Total machine auto time (sec)

Total walk time (sec)

Operator cycle time

Manual plus walk time in seconds, the time the operator is busy per cycle.

Walking as share of operator time

27.9%

Machine time not covered by operator time

Positive values mean the operator waits on the machine.

This sheet assumes machine auto time overlaps with operator work, which is the case in most single-machine cells. Compare operator cycle time with your takt time. If one machine's auto time exceeds the operator's time, the machine paces the cell.

Reconcile observed times with ERP routings

Optional: we can compare observed cycle times with routing standards and flag the largest gaps.

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How to use the worksheet

Time each work element with a stopwatch or video, repeating observations until the numbers are stable. Split every element into manual time, machine auto time, and walk time. The sheet adds manual and walk time into the operator time, since those are what keep the person busy. Classify each element as value-added, necessary non-value-added or waste, and target the waste elements first. The sample rows show a CNC cell where the operator also deburrs and gauges parts while the machine runs.

Observe at least 10 cycles and use the repeatable minimum, not the best case
Record walking separately, since it is the first thing layout changes reduce
Time what the operator does now, not what the routing says
Include inspections and material handling that appear in the cycle

Operator time versus takt time

Takt time is available time divided by customer demand. If the operator cycle time is below takt, the cell can meet demand with some spare capacity. If it is above, either remove waste, rebalance work among operators or add resources. Machine auto time matters when it exceeds the operator cycle; in that case the machine paces the process and the operator waits. The summary lines show the walk share and any machine wait so you can see which constraint applies.

Reading the sample

In the sample, the operator spends about 44 seconds of manual and walk time while the machine runs a 46-second automatic cycle. The operator cycle is therefore close to the machine cycle, which is a healthy balance. The waste row, searching for a gauge, adds 11 seconds with no value. Removing it with a shadow board would reduce the operator cycle and cut walking as well.

Common mistakes

Copying times from the ERP routing instead of observing, hiding waste inside value-added elements, and using a single best observation are the typical errors. Another is forgetting that standard work is a standard for the current best method, not a fixed limit. After each improvement update the sheet, retrain the operators and then adjust ERP routing times accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a standard work combination sheet?

It is a chart that shows, for one operator, the sequence of work elements with manual, machine and walking times, so the combined cycle can be compared with takt time and improved.

How is it different from a work instruction?

A work instruction tells how to do the steps. The combination sheet shows timing and the interaction between the person and the machine. Both belong in standard work.

How do I measure walk time?

Stopwatch the movements between locations or video the cycle. Record walking from where the last task ended to where the next starts. A spaghetti diagram can help you find the distances.

Should auto time be included in the operator cycle?

Not when the operator works while the machine runs. Include auto time as waiting only if the operator has nothing to do. The summary line shows the waiting component.

If you want to compare observed standard work against the routing times in your ERP, we can help you pull and reconcile them.

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