Standardized work combination table explained
A standardized work combination table is a form that shows one operator's work for one cycle on a time graph: their hand work, the machines they run, and their walking. It shows whether all of that work fits within takt time.
Matt Savas · Reviewed October 2026 · About 7 minutes
What a standardized work combination table is
A standardized work combination table (SWCT) shows one operator's work for one cycle, second by second. It is one of the three forms of standardized work, with the process capacity sheet and the standardized work chart.
The left side of the form is a table. Each row is one work element, a small step of the job. The elements are listed in the order the operator does them. Three columns give the time for each element:
- Manual time. Work the operator does by hand, like loading a part into a machine or checking it with a gauge.
- Auto time. The time a machine runs on its own after the operator starts it.
- Walk time. The time the operator spends walking to the next element.
The right side is a time graph, with seconds running from left to right. Each element has its own row. Manual time is drawn as a solid bar and auto time as a thinner bar. Walking is a wavy line that steps down to the next row. A heavy line down the graph marks takt time, which is how often the customer needs one part.
What the table shows
The table shows whether one operator can do all of this work within takt time. Add the manual time and the walk time to get the operator's cycle. If the cycle ends before the takt line, the work fits. If it ends past the line, one operator can't keep up.
It also shows what the machines do while the operator is away. A machine runs while the operator works somewhere else, so its auto time does not add to the cycle. The table shows whether each machine finishes before the operator comes back to it. If it doesn't, the operator has to stand and wait.
A yamazumi chart compares the work of several operators on a line. A combination table looks at one operator in detail. It is the form to use when that operator runs machines.
How to fill one in
- 1List the work elementsWrite them down the left side in the order the operator does them, one per row. Watch the job first. Don’t copy the steps from a planning sheet.
- 2Time each elementTime each element ten times. Write down its manual, auto and walk time. Use the lowest time that repeats. The free time observation sheet does the math.
- 3Work out takt timeDivide the work time in a shift by the number of parts the customer needs in that shift. The free takt time calculator does this for you.
- 4Draw the takt lineDraw a heavy line down the graph at takt time.
- 5Plot each elementDraw the manual time as a bar on the element’s row. Start the auto time where the manual time ends. Then draw the walk as a wavy line down to the start of the next element.
- 6Walk back and compare with taktDraw the last walk back up to the first row. Where it ends is the cycle time. Compare it with the takt line. Then check that each machine finishes before the operator comes back to it.
The free SWCT tool draws the graph from your times and exports a form you can print.
A worked example
This example is a machining cell with one operator. The operator cuts a steel blank on a saw, turns it on a lathe, drills it, and then inspects and deburrs it at a bench. The numbers are made up. As you scroll, the table fills in one step at a time.
List the work elements
Write the work elements down the left side, in the order the operator does them. This job has four: load the saw, load the lathe, load the drill, and inspect and deburr at the bench. Next to each element, write its manual, auto and walk time. The manual times add up to 29 seconds, and the walks add up to 14.
Draw the takt line
The cell has 440 minutes of work time a shift, which is 26,400 seconds. The customer needs 550 parts a shift. 26,400 ÷ 550 = 48, so takt time is 48 seconds. Draw a heavy line at 48 seconds.
Load the saw
The operator loads the saw. That is 6 seconds of manual time, drawn as a dark bar from 0 to 6. The saw then cuts on its own for 8 seconds. Its auto time is the amber bar that starts where the loading ends. The operator does not wait for the saw. They walk 3 seconds to the lathe, drawn as a wavy line down to the next row.
Load the lathe
The operator reaches the lathe at 9 seconds and loads it for 7 seconds. The lathe then runs on its own for 16 seconds, from 16 to 32. The saw has already finished. The operator walks 3 seconds to the drill.
Load the drill
The operator loads the drill from 19 to 24 seconds. The drill runs for 10 seconds, until 34. Now two machines are running at the same time while the operator walks 3 seconds to the bench.
Inspect and deburr
At the bench the operator checks the part with a gauge and removes the sharp edges. This takes 11 seconds, from 27 to 38. There is no machine here, so there is no auto time. The lathe finishes at 32 and the drill at 34, while the operator is still at the bench.
Walk back to the saw
The operator walks 5 seconds back to the saw. The wavy line goes from the last row back up to the first. The cycle ends at 43 seconds: 29 seconds of manual work plus 14 seconds of walking.
Compare the cycle with takt
The cycle is 43 seconds and takt is 48, so the operator waits 5 seconds before starting the next part. The machine time is not added to the cycle, because each machine runs while the operator works somewhere else. Each machine also finishes before the operator comes back to it. If one did not, the operator would have to stand and wait, and that wait would add to the cycle.
| Element | Manual | Auto | Walk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Load the saw | 6 | 8 | 3 |
| Load the lathe | 7 | 16 | 3 |
| Load the drill | 5 | 10 | 3 |
| Inspect and deburr | 11 | – | 5 |
| Total | 29 | 14 |
| Element | Manual | Auto | Walk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Load the saw | 6 | 8 | 3 |
| Load the lathe | 7 | 16 | 3 |
| Load the drill | 5 | 10 | 3 |
| Inspect and deburr | 11 | – | 5 |
| Total | 29 | 14 |
List the work elements
Write the work elements down the left side, in the order the operator does them. This job has four: load the saw, load the lathe, load the drill, and inspect and deburr at the bench. Next to each element, write its manual, auto and walk time. The manual times add up to 29 seconds, and the walks add up to 14.
Draw the takt line
The cell has 440 minutes of work time a shift, which is 26,400 seconds. The customer needs 550 parts a shift. 26,400 ÷ 550 = 48, so takt time is 48 seconds. Draw a heavy line at 48 seconds.
Load the saw
The operator loads the saw. That is 6 seconds of manual time, drawn as a dark bar from 0 to 6. The saw then cuts on its own for 8 seconds. Its auto time is the amber bar that starts where the loading ends. The operator does not wait for the saw. They walk 3 seconds to the lathe, drawn as a wavy line down to the next row.
Load the lathe
The operator reaches the lathe at 9 seconds and loads it for 7 seconds. The lathe then runs on its own for 16 seconds, from 16 to 32. The saw has already finished. The operator walks 3 seconds to the drill.
Load the drill
The operator loads the drill from 19 to 24 seconds. The drill runs for 10 seconds, until 34. Now two machines are running at the same time while the operator walks 3 seconds to the bench.
Inspect and deburr
At the bench the operator checks the part with a gauge and removes the sharp edges. This takes 11 seconds, from 27 to 38. There is no machine here, so there is no auto time. The lathe finishes at 32 and the drill at 34, while the operator is still at the bench.
Walk back to the saw
The operator walks 5 seconds back to the saw. The wavy line goes from the last row back up to the first. The cycle ends at 43 seconds: 29 seconds of manual work plus 14 seconds of walking.
Compare the cycle with takt
The cycle is 43 seconds and takt is 48, so the operator waits 5 seconds before starting the next part. The machine time is not added to the cycle, because each machine runs while the operator works somewhere else. Each machine also finishes before the operator comes back to it. If one did not, the operator would have to stand and wait, and that wait would add to the cycle.
What happens when takt changes
The operator's work stays the same at 43 seconds. Takt time changes when the customer orders more or fewer parts. The cell still has 26,400 seconds of work time a shift.
If the cycle no longer fits, work has to come out of it, or move to another operator. The line balancing guide shows how to share work between operators.
The customer needs 550 parts a shift, so takt is 48 seconds. The 43-second cycle fits, with 5 seconds of wait. The cycle takes about 90% of takt, which leaves a little time for small problems.
Common mistakes
- Adding the machine time to the cycle. The machine runs while the operator works somewhere else. Only manual time and walking count, plus any time the operator waits at a machine.
- Leaving out the walking. In the example, walking is 14 of the 43 seconds. Without it the cycle looks shorter than it is.
- Using planned or average times. Time the real work. Use the lowest time that repeats, and fix the causes of the slow cycles.
- Not checking the machines. If a machine is still running when the operator gets back to it, the operator waits. Check each machine's auto time against the time the operator returns.
- Putting two operators on one table. Each operator gets their own table.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a standardized work combination table?
- A form that shows one operator's work for one cycle on a time graph. Each work element has a row with its manual, auto and walk time. A line marks takt time. The table shows whether the operator's work fits within takt.
- What are the three kinds of time on the table?
- Manual time is work done by hand, like loading or gauging a part. Auto time is a machine running on its own. Walk time is the operator moving to the next element. The table shows all three on one time scale.
- Does machine time count toward the cycle?
- No, as long as each machine finishes before the operator comes back to it. The operator does other work while the machine runs. If a machine is still running when the operator returns, the operator waits, and that wait counts.
- How is it different from a yamazumi chart?
- A yamazumi chart has one bar for each operator, so you can compare the work across a line. A combination table looks at one operator and shows when each piece of work happens. Use it when the operator runs machines, because it shows the machine time next to the operator's work.
- How do you read the table?
- Read it from left to right. Follow the solid manual bars and the wavy walk lines from row to row. Where the last walk ends is the cycle time. If it ends before the takt line, the work fits. The gap up to the takt line is wait time.
- When do you use one?
- When one operator runs several machines, or does a job with walking and machine time in it. A machining cell is a common example.