Why SMV Matters
SMV (Standard Minute Value) determines how long an operation should take. It is the foundation of every planning calculation: capacity, target, line balance, cost, and efficiency. Without accurate SMV, every plan is guesswork.
Where SMV is Used
Capacity calculation. Hourly targets. Line balancing. Costing. Order delivery dates. Operator requirement. Machine requirement. Efficiency measurement.
Practical Example 1 — Capacity
A line with 30 machines, 8 hours, 65 percent efficiency, SMV 4 minutes. Capacity equals 30 times 480 times 0.65 divided by 4 equals 2340 pieces per day. If SMV is wrong by 20 percent, capacity is wrong by 20 percent.
Practical Example 2 — Target Setting
Hourly target equals machines times 60 times efficiency divided by SMV. Wrong SMV equals wrong target equals either stress or complacency.
Practical Example 3 — Costing
Labor cost per piece equals SMV times cost per minute. If SMV is 15 minutes and cost per minute is 4 taka, cost per piece is 60 taka. Wrong SMV equals wrong price equals lost profit.
Practical Example 4 — Delivery Date
Order of 50,000 pieces at SMV 15 minutes, line capacity 2340 pieces per day. Days needed is 50,000 divided by 2340 equals 21.4 days. Add buffer, deliver in 25 days. Wrong SMV equals wrong delivery commitment.
SMV Accuracy
SMV should be verified by time study, not taken from a catalog. It should be updated after method improvements. Different fabrics, machines, and operators can change SMV. Regular time studies keep SMV accurate.
Common Mistakes
Using old SMV. Using catalog SMV without verification. Not updating SMV after improvement. Using one SMV for all fabrics. Ignoring allowances.
When to Use It
SMV is used in every planning decision. It is the foundation of IE and PPC work.