How to Calculate Machine Productivity

Calculating machine productivity is one way of measuring line productivity or factory’s productivity. If you are already measuring labour productivity of your sewing lines, you might be also interested in calculating machine productivity for your lines. It is easier to estimate production capacity of a line for the given products, if you have machine productivity data for various product categories. In this post I will show you how to calculate machine productivity of a sewing line.

Formula to calculate machine productivity:

Machine productivity = (Number of total garments produced / Total stitching machines used)

Productivity is the ratio of output and input of a process in a defined time frame. Divide garment output of a line by machine input.

In the readymade garment production, factories measure productivity majorly as labour productivity and machine productivity. Labour productivity calculation method has been already discussed in this post.

Machine productivity calculation method:

• To calculate machine productivity of a stitching line you need following data. 
• Count total stitching machines in a line
• Count line output at the end of the day (number of garments produced)
• Note shift time (in hours) and total hours factory works

Calculate machine productivity using above formula

Example: A 40 machines line produced 400 pieces of shirts in 8 hours shift day.

Machine productivity  = 400/40 pieces in 8 hours.
= 10 pieces per 8 hours shift

This method is applicable in calculating machine productivity for individual sewing lines as well as the whole factory.

In case your factory shift time is 10 hour, you can measure machine productivity as machine productivity per 10 hour shift. Or convert 10 hours productivity into 8 hours machine productivity by following this formula.

Machine productivity in 8 hours = (Pieces produced*8)/ (Number of machines * Actual shift hours)

Exercise: Calculate machine productivity in 8 hours for following cases.

Line No.	Product type	No. of m/c	Total Pieces Produced (Line output)	Hours worked/Day	Machine Productivity in 8 hours shift
1	Casual shirt	30	400	8
2	Formal shirt	40	350	10
3	Trouser	44	420	10

Answers: 1=13.3, 2=7 and 3=7.63