What Does "Time to Completion" Mean?

Time to completion (TTC) is a process that makes it possible to identify the amount of time required to successfully initiate, manage, and complete a specific task. This type of calculation is often in integral part of project management, in that the process makes it possible to determine reasonable time frames for the successful completion of each action item concerned with the project. By calculating the estimated time to completion of each of these individual action items, it is possible to project how long it will take to complete the entire project, a calculation that is often necessary when allocating resources to a new project.

The concept of time to completion can be used in a number of applications. As part of the process for setting production and efficiency standards, TTC is helpful in designing processes that allow for the completion of tasks performed on an assembly line in as little time as possible. Doing so helps to support the effort to increase production without sacrificing quality. During the evaluation phase, experimenting with different methodologies for performing essential actions can lead to revamping the assembly process in general, making the overall operation more fluid and coordinated.

Administrative and clerical tasks can also be aided by determining the time to completion. For example, the preparation of a proposal for delivery to a prospective customer normally has the goal of making sure the completed document is in the hands of that prospect at or before the required time limit. In order to accomplish this, the team charged with drafting the proposal may establish a series of action items to occur over a period of several days. Estimating the amount of time needed to complete each of those tasks and thus complete a portion of the proposal helps to keep the project moving forward, while still allowing a window of time to deal with unforeseen complications.

Even a local business can make use of the idea of time to completion to determine how long it will take to set up a new display, stock the shelves in a particular area of the store, or create the materials for a special holiday sale. At its core, time to completions is all about effective time management that makes it possible to set realistic expectations for how long a task will take, making it easier to organize tasks in a logical manner and make the most of the work day.