IE 386

Work Analysis and Design I

Direct Time Study
Time Study
• Time study is the most common and the widely used in the industry for
work measurement.
• Direct time study is the direct and continuous observation of a task using a
stopwatch or other timekeeping device to record the time taken to
accomplish work elements composing a task (Groover, 2007).
• While observing and recording the time, the worker’s performance level is
rated.
• These data are then used to compute a standard time for the task, by
adding an allowance for personal time, fatigue, and delays. For measuring
the work using time study, a time keeping device such as stopwatch is the
mostly used equipment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNfy_AHG-MU&t=571s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsF0kGYgOI8&t=137s
Objective of Time Study
The main objective of time study is to determine the quantum of
human work in a specified task and hence to establish the standard
time.
The other objectives are:
1. To fix a fair output rate for workers.
2. To furnish a basis of comparison for determining operating effectiveness.
3. To set labor standard for satisfactory performance.
4. To compare alternative methods in motion study in order to select the best
method.

11/30/2022 3
Time Standards
• The time required to produce a product at a workstation with the
following three conditions:
• a qualified, well-trained operator;
• doing a specific task; and
• working at a normal pace.
• Normal pace is the pace at which a trained operator, under normal
conditions performs a task with a normal level of effort.
• Normal level of effort is one in which the operator can maintain a comfortable
pace, not too fast and not too slow.
Walking 264 feet in 1,000 minutes (3 miles per hour)
Dealing 52 cards into four equal stacks in 0.500 minute (at a bridge table)

11/30/2022 4
Techniques of Time Study
1. Predetermined time standard systems
2. Stopwatch time study
3. Work sampling
4. Standard data
5. Expert opinion standard and historical data

11/30/2022 5
Time Study Procedure
Step 1. Select the job to study.
Step 2. Collect information about the job.
Step 3. Divide the job into elements.
Step 4. Do the actual time study.
Step 5. Extend the time study.
Step 6. Determine the number of cycles to be timed.
Step 7. Rate, level, and normalize the operator’s performance.
Step 8. Apply allowances.
Standard time
Step 9. Check for logic.
= 𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 × 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
Step 10. Publish the time standard. + 𝑂𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠

11/30/2022 6
 Continuous Example 1 2 3 4 5
R 0.16 0.83 1.5 2.17 2.83
Load and clamp
E
R 0.56 1.23 1.9 2.57 3.23
Run machine
E
Unload and place R 0.66 1.33 2.01 2.67 3.32
aside E
To calculate each element time (E), subtract the previous reading from each reading.

Snapback Example 1 2 3 4 5
R
Load and clamp
E 0.16 0.17 0.17 0.16 0.16
R
Run machine
E 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4
Unload and place R
aside E 0.1 0.1 0.11 0.1 0.09
Note that the elemental time (E) is already calculated.
11/30/2022 7
Allowances
• Allowances fall into three categories:
• Personal
• The time an employee is allowed for personal activities.
• Fatigue
• The time an employee is allowed for recuperation from fatigue.
• Fatigue allowance time is given to employees in the form of work breaks,
commonly known as coffee breaks.
• Delay
• Unavoidable because they are out of the operator’s control.

11/30/2022 8
11/30/2022 9
The Uses of Time Study
1. Determine the number of machine tools to buy.
2. Determine the number of production people to employ.
3. Determine manufacturing costs and selling prices.
4. Schedule the machines, operations, and people to do the job.
5. Determine the assembly line balance, conveyor belt speed, load and balance
the work cells.
6. Determine individual worker performance and identify bottleneck operations.
7. Pay incentive wages where applicable.
8. Evaluate cost reduction ideas.
9. Evaluate new equipment purchases to justify their expense.
10. Develop operation personnel budgets to measure management performance.
11/30/2022 10
Example: Stool Assembly
• The example is based on the assembly of the step stool.
• The first cycle without timing.
• 5 more cycles of the 6 tasks shown in the next slide should
be done while using the stopwatch for recording the time
of each observation (use snapback timing).
• Observations are recorded and results are calculated in the
time study using the observation sheet in Table.
• For our calculations, we assume that a PFD equals 15% for
the whole task
Stool Assembly Steps
 Time Study Observation Sheet
Date: 20.05.2020
Task Title: Stool Assembly
Task Done By: Sara AlSharif Task studied by: Gevorg Guloyan
Work Element 1
Element Description 1 2 3 4 5 Avg T PR Tn
Attaching support to the top
right side of the stool
Work Element 2
Element Description 1 2 3 4 5 Avg T PR Tn
Attaching support to the bottom
right side of the stool
Work Element 3
Element Description 1 2 3 4 5 Avg T PR Tn
Attaching the left side of the
stool to the assembly
Work Element 4
Element Description 1 2 3 4 5 Avg T PR Tn
Attaching the bottom step of the
stool
Work Element 5
Element Description 1 2 3 4 5 Avg T PR Tn
Attaching the top step of the
stool
Work Element 6
Element Description 2 3 4 5 Avg T PR Tn
Inspection of all screws
Total Normal Time (TN)
Allowance Factor (Apdf)
Standard Time (Tstd)
Standard TimeCalculation Equations

• Average Observed Time: 𝑇𝑎𝑣𝑔 = σ𝑚

𝑖=1 𝑇𝑖 /𝑚

• Observed Normal Time: 𝑇𝑛 = 𝑇𝑎𝑣𝑔 ∗ 𝑃𝑅

• Total Normal Time: 𝑇𝑁 = σ𝑛𝑖=1 𝑇𝑛

• Standard Time: 𝑇𝑆𝑇𝐷 = 𝑇𝑁 ∗ (1 + 𝐴𝑃𝐹𝐷 )

Where Apfd is the allowance factor, n is the number of elements, m is

the number of cycles.
Problem Solving - Q1
The average observed time for a repetitive work cycle in a direct time
study was 3.27 min. The worker was performance rated by the analyst
at 90%. The company uses a PFD allowance factor of 13%. What is the
standard time for this task?
Problem Solving - Q2
The ABC Company uses a standard data system to set time standards.
One of the time study analysts listed the three work elements for a
new task to be performed in the shop and then determined the normal
time values to be 0.73 min, 2.56 min, and 1.01 min. The company uses
a PFD allowance factor of 16%. Determine the standard time for the
task.
Problem Solving - Q3
The standard time is to be established for a manual work cycle by direct
time study. The observed time for the cycle averaged 4.80 min. The
worker’s performance was rated at 90% on all cycles observed. After
eight cycles, the worker must exchange parts containers, which took
1.60 min, rated at 120%. The PFD allowance for this class of work is
15%. Determine (a) the normal time and (b) the standard time for the
cycle. (c) If the worker produces 123 work units during an 8-hour shift,
what is the worker’s efficiency?
Problem Solving - Q4
The snapback timing method was used to obtain the average times and
performance ratings for work elements in a manual repetitive task. See
table below. All elements are worker-controlled. All elements were
performance rated at 80%. Element e is an irregular element
performed every five cycles. A 15% allowance for personal time,
fatigue, and delays is applied to the cycle. Determine (a) the normal
time and (b) the standard time for this cycle. If the worker’s
performance during actual production is 120% on all manual elements
for seven actual hours worked on an eight-hour shift, (c) how many
units will be produced?
Element a b c d e
Observed time (min) 0.32 0.85 0.48 0.55 1.5
Problem Solving - Q5
The continuous timing method is used to direct time study a manual
task cycle consisting of four elements: a, b, c, and d. Two parts are
produced each cycle. Element d is an irregular element performed once
every six cycles. All elements were performance rated at 90%. The PFD
allowance is 11%. Determine (a) the normalized time for the cycle and
(b) the standard time per part. (c) How many units can be finished if
she effectively works for 7 hours and 10 min
Element a b c d
Observed time (min) 0.35 0.60 0.86 1.46
Problem Solving - Q5
The continuous timing method in direct time study was used to obtain the
element times for a worker-machine task as indicated in the table below.
Element c is a machine controlled element and the time is constant.
Elements a, b, d, e, and f are operator controlled and external to the
machine cycle, and were performance rated at 80%. If the machine
allowance is 25%, and the worker allowance for personal time, fatigue, and
delays is 15%, determine (a) the normal time and (b) standard time for the
cycle. (c) How many units can be finished for working 7.2 hours on an 8-hour
shift?
Element a b c d e f
Observed time (min) 0.18 0.30 0.88 1.12 1.55 1.8
Thank You