WORK STUDY

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Work study consists of two complementary
techniques:

 A. Method Study

 B. Work Measurement

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Method study:

 Is considered to one of the principal

techniques by which the work involved
in the product or the process could be
decreased by systematic investigation.
It helps to eliminate the unnecessary
movements which results in cutting
down the ineffective time

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Work Measurement:

 Application of systematic study

 It determines the time for a qualified worker to
complete a specific job
 It defines a level of performance under typical
operating conditions.
 Time standards provide an indication of expected
output
 If any ineffective time creeps in later it can be
immediately shown
 Work measurement is used in budgeting, manpower
planning, scheduling, standard costing, and in
designing worker incentive schemes.

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Qualified worker:

 One who has acquired the skill,

knowledge and other attributes to carry
out the work by meeting the standards
of quantity, quality and safety.

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Qualified Worker:

 Achieves smooth and consistent

movements
 Acquires rhythm
 Responds more rapidly to signals
 Anticipates difficulties and is more
ready to overcome them
 Carries out task without much conscious
attention and seems relaxed
Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive
In organizations where no work study is
conducted:

 The existence of ineffective time is not

realized/suspected
 They may consider ineffective time as a
usual phenomenon
 They consider it as “Build in process” and
nothing much can be done about it.

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

The most commonly used methods of
work measurement are:

 Time and Motion Study

 Work Sampling
 Structured Estimating
 Predetermined Time Standard
(Maynard Operational Study
techniques is one of the widely used
techniques)
 Standard Data
Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive
The Basic Procedure of Work Measurement:

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

TIME AND MOTION STUDY

 Time study is one of the work measurement

techniques

 It records the times of performing a certain

specific job or its elements

 This is done under specific conditions to

collect and analyze data

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Equipments required:

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Selecting the Job for Time Study: Points to
remember

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Think about it!!!

 These are only a few reasons of

selective a job for time study. Can you
identify a job from your organization
which requires time and motion study?

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

steps required prior to conducting the Time and
Motion Study:

 A. Precautions:
 The purpose and objective of the time study must be
clearly explained to everyone. Or else the whole
purpose would be lost.
 Unless explained, it would be misused/
misrepresented with vested interest by some.
 A joint participation of both Union and Management
is required in the process.
 The study must be conducted on a qualified worker.

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Important points:

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Obtaining and Recording
Information:

Information about the job is acquired

from two sources:
 Direct Observation

 Photography at the work place ( For minute

details about the machinery)

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive
Checking the Method:

 Check if any study has been made before and

compare with real situations at present
 If compliant has been made, kindly check if
there is any change in tools ex: worn out
tools or improperly sharpened tools, feeding,
flow or any additional work has crept in.
 In high repetitive short cycle, changes in
method are very difficult to detect.

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Breaking the job into elements:
 An element is a distinct part of a specified job selected for
convenience of observation.
 Why elements are required:
 To separate the effective time from the ineffective time
 To be more accurate. One performer may not have the same
pace through out the cycle.
 Different types of elements can be classified
 It enables to separate very high fatigued elements so that
fatigue allowances can be decided.
 It helps to detect any elimination and additions of elements. If
we study the whole cycle it is very difficult to find out additions
or eliminations.

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Some types of Elements:
 A repetitive element: it occurs in every cycle of an operation,
 Occasional element: It occurs at regular intervals.
 Constant element: An element where time remain constant at
all conditions, example: switching on a mchine,tightening a
screw
 Variable Element: an element in which the basic time varies
in relation to other characteristics, example: Sawing logs, time
varies with hardness.
 Manual element: an element performed by a worker
 Machine element: an element which is performed
automatically and can not be manually interfered unless
terminated prematurely. Ex: Form Glass Bottles, cutting
elements in machine tools.
 Governing Element: element which occupies the majority of
time in a cycle.
 Foreign Element (Out side the cycle): An element observed
which does not form a part of an operation.

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Timing each Element: Using a Stop Watch

 Cumulative timing: The watch runs continuously

during the study and all the elements are recorded.
At the end of each element, time is recorded. The
individual element time is recorded by subtracting
from the total time.
 Fly back Timing: The stop watch is immediately put
to zero after the time of each element is recorded.

 ILO advocates the use of cumulative timing. Because,

even if we miss one element, the over all time study
would be recorded. In fly back method slight delay in
putting the stop watch into zero would increase the
time of one element.
Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive
TIME STUDY RATINGS

 What is standard rating and standard

Performance?
 It is not always possible to engage large
number of qualified workers. Moreover people
do not work consistently from day to day or
minute to minute. The examiner must have
some means of assessing the rate of the
worker whom he is observing. He must
identify a standard pace of working. This
process of standardization is called as Rating.
Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive
Rating:

 Assessment of the worker’s rate of working

 Relative to observer’s concept of rate
Standard pace
 the observer has an image in his mind of a
qualified worker who will naturally work with
commitment and proper relaxation
 Rating is generally denoted by a scale of 100

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Standard Performance:

 If a worker maintains a standard pace with

appropriate relaxation, the amount of output
achieved by him would be termed as
standard performance over the shift/day.
 Out put which qualified worker would
naturally achieve
 Without over exertion
 Abides by specific methods
 Motivated to their work

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Grey Areas in standardizing:

 Physique
 Environment….etc

 Discussions………

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Factors without the control of the
Operator
 Variations in quality of the material being used
 Variations in the tools or equipments being used
 Changes in methods and conditions of operation
 Variation of Mental attention
 Changes in climate, lighting, temperature
 The optimum pace at which the worker would work depends on
the physical effort required, constant care and attention,
training and experience etc
 Greater physical effort, awkward position would slow up the
pace. Example: a person pushing a car by the window with one
hand in the steering wheel would have lesser speed than a
person pushing it from behind.
 Similarly a person with a heavy weight will have a faster pace
because he wants to get rid of it. But he would require more
relaxation after the task is done.

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Factors within the control of the operator:

 Variations due to the individual’s

capability, pace
 Variations due to the attitude to work
 Variations due to the attitude towards
an organization (If there is a sense of
belongingness)

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Work content

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Allowances:

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

The Limitations of Time and Motion Study

 Observers are not always competent

 Those conducting the study are not always proficient in the job
being observed
 The actions observed are not always reflective of the group as a
whole
 Timing by direct observation may lead to inconsistency
 Rating is a vary disputed area in Time and Motion Study
 It included individual expertise and judgment in various factors
 The workers may resent the study if it is being used to
determine the pay scale
 Workers may change the rate at which they work
 Pressure may increase mistakes made
 Workers may alter normal work methods to disrupt the study

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

Predetermined motion time system
(PMTS)

 Discussions
 What are the advantages of predetermined
motion time system?
 Setting standards for a very short motions (very hard
to evaluate using other measures)
 Standard “language” of documenting sequences of
elements which define operations
 Enable to determine standard times for new
operations for whom we don’t have past data
 Enable to compare different methods of performing a
new task (before applying the preferred method

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

MOST (Maynard Operation Sequence
Technique)

 MOST (Maynard Operation Sequence

Technique) is a work measurement
technique Maynard and Company, Inc.
in the Unites States.
 MOST has been already introduced into
the wide varieties of industries, such as
aerospace, automotive, electronics, etc.,
in EU, US, and Asia.
Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive
 MOST is a work measurement system
which can be easily implemented and
practically maintained.
 MOST is a registered trademark of H. B.
Maynard and Company, Inc.

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

The MOST Systems family:

 MOST is designed in multilevel to suit

the various needs of industrial
engineers:
 Basic MOST
 Maxi MOST
 Mini MOST

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive

THANK YOU

Arvind Shrouti,Option Positive