Takt time sets the rhythm of production. If a customer needs 480 units per day and the plant operates 480 minutes per day, takt time is one minute — one unit must be completed every 60 seconds to keep up with demand.
Takt time is a planning tool, not a measurement of actual performance. It tells you how fast you need to go. Comparing actual cycle times to takt time reveals whether your process can keep pace with demand, and which stations are bottlenecks.
In high-mix environments, takt time becomes more nuanced because different products have different cycle times. Manufacturers use weighted takt time or family-based scheduling to balance the line across varying product mixes.