In assembly-line balancing, cycle time (the ratio of available production time to scheduled production) is the: minimum time that a product is allowed at each workstation. maximum time that a product is allowed at each workstation. inverse of the minimum number of workstations needed. sum of all the task times divided by the maximum number of workstations. equivalent of the maximum task time among all tasks.

The business cycle is the periodic but irregular up-and-down movement in economic activity, measured by fluctuations in real gross domestic product (gdp) and other macroeconomic variables. a business cycle is typically characterized by four phases—recession, recovery, growth, and decline—that repeat themselves over time. economists note, however, that complete business cycles vary in length. the duration of business cycles can be anywhere from about two to twelve years, with most cycles averaging six years in length. some business analysts use the business cycle model and terminology to study and explain fluctuations in business inventory and other individual elements of corporate operations. but the term "business cycle" is still primarily associated with larger (industry-wide, regional, national, or even international) business trends.