The Order Quantity, rate and the setting-up it needs

Order Quantity kg

Production Rate per Machine kg/h

Changeover per Machine h

Yarn change, cam and quality setting, first-piece approval

The Window Time available and machines committed

Days to the Due Date d

Running Hours per Day h/d

Machines Allocated

Machines Needed to Meet the Date

—

Smallest count that fits once each pays its changeover

Completion, Slack & Changeover Burden

Completion at the Allocated Count: — d
Slack to the Due Date: — d
Window Consumed: — %
Total Running Hours: — h
Hours Committed per Machine: — h
Slack per Machine: — h
Changeover Hours Paid: — h
Changeover Share of Committed Time: — %
Output at the Allocated Count: — kg/d

The model assumes every allocated machine is identical, available for the whole window, and runs at the stated rate throughout; where machines differ in diameter, gauge or feeder count the rates differ and quantity should be allocated in proportion to rate rather than evenly. The production rate should already include machine efficiency - it is kilograms actually delivered per running hour, not the geometric maximum. Changeover covers yarn change, cam and quality setting and first-piece approval, and it is paid in full by every machine regardless of how small its share of the order is. Running hours per day should be measured rather than taken from the shift pattern. Nothing here models yarn availability, which is the constraint that most often decides whether a knitting order actually starts on the day the plan says it does, nor the queue for a shared changeover crew.

Knitting Order Allocation, Machine Count & Slack to the Due Date — free, with the formula and a worked example, at Textile School.