Set-up time refers to the time required to convert a machine or production line from the manufacture of one product to the manufacture of another.
This period of time includes preparing the set-up, changing tools, molds or fixtures and adjusting the machine to the new specifications.

The aim is to prepare the machine for the next production run without compromising the quality of the products.
Set-up times are a critical factor in production planning and control, as they directly influence the flexibility and efficiency of production.
Reducing set-up times can make a significant contribution to increasing overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and reducing production costs.

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The set-up times can be divided into the following segments: Setup preparation, setup, teardown and, if necessary, setup post-processing.

Setup preparation and setup post-processing are possible at the same time as the ongoing production of the previous or next production order.
These preparatory and follow-up set-up tasks are called “external set-up” because they differ from “internal set-up”, which includes the set-up and teardown segments and can only take place during machine downtime.

A precise division of all set-up operations into external and internal set-up is crucial for reducing set-up times.

The distinction between set-up and teardown is also relevant for detailed production planning.
There, it may even be necessary to record the set-up and teardown times per device, mold or tool so that a detailed planning system can calculate the changeover times from one production order to the next more precisely.