Definition

A PMTS, is defined as a work measurement technique, whereby the time is established for, time
established for basic motions is used to build up the time required for a job at a defined level of
performance. So, these basic motions have been defined and categorize in different way, in the
different PMTS systems which have developed.

These are considered as advanced techniques of the work measurement, which basically aims at
defining the time needed for carrying out the job, by deriving the time values required for
performing the basic human motions during the job. And these time values are not obtained by
the direct observations and the measurement, but these time values are taken from the handbooks,
which have been developed over a long period of time.

The definition in BS 3138, Glossary of Terms Used in Work Study is: 'Tables of time data at
defined rates of working for classified human movements and mental activities. Times for an
operation or task are derived using precise conventions. Predetermined motion time data have
also been developed for common combinations of basic human movements and mental
activities.’

How PMTS is applied?

For applying the PMTS systems, the given job which is to be analysed and for which time is to be
obtained is broken down, in to the number of the basic human motions; so that the time required
values for those basic human motions can be obtained from the data banks and the PMTS
systems. A predetermined motion time system, is a procedure that analyses any manual
activity in terms of the basic or the fundamental motions required to perform the job. Each of
these motions is assigned, a previously established standard time value and then the timing for the
individual motions are synthesized, to obtain the total time needed for performing the activity. So,
here simple basic human motions are used, to quantify the time required to carry out the job and
the time for the basic human motions, have been established over a period of time. So,
predetermined time values, for the basic human motions are basically used, to synthesize the
time required for performing the activity. And this typical feature of the PMTS system is very
important, because it helps to come up with the time required for carrying out the job
before, actually it is performed by the worker.

Background

The principle of analysing work into basic actions was first published by F. Gilbreth in 1920, as his
Therbligs. The first commercial and internationally recognized system was devised in the 1930's to
circumvent the banning by the government of the United States time study and the stop-watch as the
means of measuring work performed on US government contracts. It was devised by Quick,
Malcolm and Duncan under the title Work-Factor and appeared in 1938. Other methods followed,
the main one, some ten years later, being Methods-Time Measurement (MTM). Both systems share
basic similarities but are based on different standards of time.
Objectives of PMTS

The predetermined lime systems have been successfully applied to:

(i) Determine job time standards.

(ii) Compare the times for alternative, proposed methods so as the determine the economics of
the proposals before the production runs or other way round fabrication/ production of
equipment to be employed.
(iii) To estimate the manpower, equipment and space requirements before production or prior to
setting up of facilities.
(iv) To develop tentative layouts for assembly lines before the work starts so as to minimize the
investment on subsequent rearrangement and rebalancing etc.
(v) For improving and modifying work methods before stating the work on the job.
(vi) To set time standards for various jobs.
(vii) To provide a basis for estimation of labour cost and wage plans.
(viii) To facilitate training of the workers and supervisory staff.
(ix) To utilize for timing of those short and repetitive motion which are difficult to be measured
by stop watch.

Technique /Development of a PMT System

It consists following steps:

(i) In order to avoid the inaccuracies being introduced by use of human element, the technique
used to build PMTS data does not measure element time by a stop watch.
(ii) It is assumed that all manual tasks in industries consists of certain basic human movements
such as move, reach, engage or disengage etc. which are common in almost all jobs.
(iii) The average time taken by the (normal) industrial workers to perform a basic activity/
movement is practically constant.

There have been many such PMTS developed over time; some are exclusively used for their own
companies while some are publicly available.

Some commonly used PMT systems are as follows

(i) Work factor (1938)

(ii) Method time measurement (1948)
(iii) Basic motion time (1951)
(iv) Dimension motion time (1954)

Factors to keep in mind while selecting PMTS

(i) Cost of installation- It consists of cost of getting an expert for applying the system under
consideration.
 (ii) Cost of application – It is determined by the length of time needed to set a time standard
by the system under consideration.
(iii) System's performance level – The level of performance embodied in the system under
consideration may be different from the normal performance established in the industry
where the system is to be used. This problem can be overcome by calibration via
multiplying the times given in the PMT Tables by some constant or using adjustment
allowance.
(iv) Consistency of standards – It is a vital factor which can initially be applied on a trial
basis on a set of in the plant and applied for consistency in the so obtained operation
times.
(v) Nature of operation – Best results are likely to be achieved if the type and nature of
operations in the plant are similar to the nature and type of operations studied during the
development of the system under consideration.

Advantages of PMTS

(i) There is no need, actually to observe the operation, when it is being run and estimation of
the time to perform a job can made from the drawing, even before the job is actually done.
(ii) This feature is very useful in production planning, forecasting, the equipment requirement
and selection of the manpower.
(iii) The use of PMTS eliminates the need for troublesome controversial performance rating of
the worker, by the time study man.
(iv) For the sole reason of avoiding the performance rating, some companies have been using
this technique, extensively
(v) Use of PMT, forces the analyst to study the different aspects of the method, which in turn
helps to provide, the venues for improvement of the existing method. When detailed study of
the existing method is carried out, that in turn provides the areas, where improvement
can be done.
(vi) A bye-product of use of predetermined motion times, is a detailed record of the method
of operation.
(vii) This is advantageous for installation of the method, for developing the instructional details
and for detection and verification of any change, that might occur in the method, later on
future.
(viii) When the detailed breakdown of the job is made available, it helps to check any
deviation from the method, which is being used by the operators during the job.
(ix) PMTS can also be, usefully employed to establish the elemental time data, values
for setting the time standard on the jobs, done on various types of the machines and
equipment.

Limitations

(i) Large number of PMTS systems.

 (ii) Erroneous assumptions.
(iii) It does not the effect of preceding and following motions, directions (up/down,
towards/away from the body) on time required to a given elements.
(iv) Not cost effective for non-repetitive jobs.
(v) 100% coverage of elements and range of activities is not possible.

References

https://www.managers-net.com/pmts.html

https://nptel.ac.in/courses/112107142/part1/lecture11.htm

http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/industrial-engineering-2/predetermined-motion-time-systems-
pmts-industry/90499