FormulaIntermediate

Why released labour hours are not cash savings

Time freed on the shop floor changes the payroll only under specific conditions.

8 minPrint Profit Navigator EditorialUpdated 11/07/2026

TL;DR

  • Only overtime, temp staff, unfilled positions and real headcount changes are cash-effective.
  • Everything else is released capacity — valuable, but not money until it is sold.
  • Print Profit Navigator reports released time and cash savings as separate figures on purpose.

The classic vendor slide multiplies 120 saved hours by €28 and shows €3,360 in monthly savings. If nobody leaves the payroll and no additional order is invoiced, the bank balance is unchanged.

The rule

Cash-effective labour saving
Cash = Overtime_removed + Temp_hours_removed + Unfilled_positions + Headcount_reduction
  • All other released hours are reported as capacity, valued at €0 in the cash case
ScenarioReleased hoursCash effect
Overtime eliminatedYesFull hourly premium
Temporary staff not bookedYesFull agency rate
Open position not filledYesFull loaded cost
Headcount reducedYesLoaded cost minus severance
Operator reassigned to other workYes€0 direct — value only if that work is sold
Operator idleYes€0

Automation releasing 140 hours per month

Overtime removed
38 h → €1,520
Temp staff removed
24 h → €790
Reassigned internally
78 h → €0 cash
Reported cash saving
€2,310, not €4,900

Interactive example

Loaded labour rate per productive hour

Loaded rate
€ 26,71 / h
Labour per garment
€ 0,245
Annual loaded cost
€ 41.140

Same calculation kernel as the full calculators. For a decision-grade result, open the matching calculator.

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