Setup time is the period required to prepare and configure equipment for a production process.
Setup time involves activities necessary to transition a manufacturing system from the end of the production of one type of product to the beginning of the production of another. This includes actions such as changing tools, calibrating machines, and testing configurations to ensure specified operational parameters. Effective management of setup time is critical to enhancing operational efficiency and reducing production downtime.
During the setup process of a CNC milling machine, operators need 45 minutes to change the cutting tool and recalibrate the equipment for the next batch of automotive parts.
This setup time is critical in precision engineering workshops where machine use is scheduled tightly.
In an injection molding facility, setup time includes the 30 minutes for mold changeover and machine settings adjustments to switch production from a component made of polypropylene to one using ABS plastic.
Plastic injection molding plants frequently encounter this scenario as part of their flexible manufacturing operations.