Example: 600 cases and a 30-minute break
After four elapsed hours and 600 cases, counting the full four hours yields 150 cases/hour. Removing 30 minutes leaves 3.5 hours of productive time and a rate of about 171.4 cases/hour. Neither answer is universally “the official one.”
Why the number on a work screen may be different
Warehouse systems can count from sign-in, from the start of an assigned order, or from another activity event. Some pause when a worker signs out for a break; others continue counting through portions of the shift. Setup, travel, damaged goods, and waiting for assignments may be treated differently too.
If your reported number drops after break, ask which events stop or start the productivity clock. Write down both the amount picked and the period being measured before assuming anything was calculated incorrectly.
Don't skip your breaks to chase a number
This is a comparison tool, not a recommendation to shorten breaks. Rest, hydration and safe pallet building matter. An apparent productivity difference caused by time accounting is not the same thing as doing less work. Follow your workplace's break and safety rules.
Which method should I track?
For your own records, use a consistent method and label it. If your employer tells you what time is officially excluded, mirror that rule for easier comparisons. If it doesn't, record a personal elapsed-time pace and separately note any estimated productive-time pace; don't present the second number as employer-confirmed.