Standard Work Sheet Template
Write the work sequence, time it, and check cycle time against takt.
Example loaded: one-operator shaft cell at a 90 s takt.
- Takt time
- -
- Manual time
- -
- Walk time
- -
- Cycle time
- -
Filled boxes are tinted. Click a box to go to it.
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How to fill in a standard work sheet
- Set takt. Enter available time and demand per shift. Takt is available time divided by demand.
- Observe and time the job. Time each step several times. Split the time into manual work and walking, and note the machine's auto time where the operator loads and starts a machine. Use the repeatable time, not the fastest one.
- Write the sequence. One row per step in the order the operator does it, with the key point that makes it safe or good.
- Mark quality checks and safety points. Pick the symbol on each step that needs one. They show on the printed sheet next to the step.
- Set standard WIP. Count the parts that must be in the process for the sequence to run, such as one in each machine.
- Sketch the layout and post it. Print the sheet, draw the stations and the walk path with step numbers in the layout box, and post it at the station. Compare cycle time with takt and rebalance with the yamazumi chart template if it is over.
Standard work sheet example: one-operator shaft cell
One operator runs a lathe and a drill and deburrs and gauges each shaft. Available time is 450 minutes a shift and demand is 300 shafts, so takt is 450 × 60 ÷ 300 = 90 seconds.
| # | Step | Key point | Manual (s) | Walk (s) | Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take blank from incoming chute | Check for burrs on the bar end | 2 | 0 | |
| 2 | Unload lathe, load blank, press start | Guard closed before start | 9 | 3 | Safety |
| 3 | Unload drill, load part from lathe, press start | Chips cleared from the locator | 8 | 3 | |
| 4 | Deburr cross hole | Both sides, no sharp edge by touch | 12 | 2 | |
| 5 | Gauge bore with go/no-go plug | Go enters, no-go does not | 10 | 2 | Quality check |
| 6 | Place in outgoing tray, walk back to start | Tray of 20, full tray to the cart | 3 | 4 |
The math
Manual = 2 + 9 + 8 + 12 + 10 + 3 = 44 s
Walk = 0 + 3 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 4 = 14 s
Cycle time = 44 + 14 = 58 s, which is 32 s under takt
Standard WIP = 2 (one shaft in the lathe, one in the drill)
The machines cycle on their own while the operator works, so the sheet only adds up the operator's manual and walk time; check in a combination table that each machine's automatic time also fits inside the 58 seconds. With 32 seconds spare against takt, this operator could take on another machine or another short job. For the method behind the sheet, see the standard work guide; to lay out and balance a whole line against takt, see Line Designer Pro.
Why this tool matters
Without a standard there is nothing to improve, only different ways of doing the job on each shift. The standard work sheet writes down the current best way to do the job at the pace of demand, so problems show up as a gap from the standard, and every improvement has a baseline to beat.
Facilitator tip
Write it with the operators, at the station. A sheet written in the office describes the job as the engineer imagines it. Time the real job, agree the sequence with the people who do it, and change the sheet the day the team finds a better way.
Frequently asked questions
What is a standard work sheet?
A one-page sheet, posted at the station, that shows the three elements of standard work: takt time, the work sequence, and the standard work in process. It adds a layout sketch with the operator's path and marks for quality checks and safety points.
What are the 3 elements of standard work?
Takt time (how often one unit must be finished to meet demand), the work sequence (the order in which the operator does the steps), and standard WIP (the minimum number of parts in the process for the sequence to run without waiting).
What is the difference between standard work and an SOP?
An SOP describes how to do a task, often in detail and for training. Standard work describes the current best way to run the job at the pace of demand: it is tied to takt, shows the sequence and standard WIP, and is the baseline for improvement.
What is standard WIP?
The smallest number of parts that must be in the cell for the operator to follow the sequence without waiting, for example one part in each machine while the operator works on the next. It is not a buffer; more than standard WIP hides problems.
Who writes standard work?
The supervisor or team leader, with the operators who do the job and an engineer to time it. Operators must be able to follow it, and it changes when the team finds a better way.