Predetermined Time

Systems
INSY 3021

Auburn University
Spring 2007
History
 Fredrick Taylor
 Time Study
 Frank and Lillian Gilbreth
 Motion Studies
 Predetermined Time Systems
(PDTS)
 Combination of time and motion studies
Therbligs!
 Work can be described by these 17.
 Effective/Productive: Reach, Move,
Grasp, Release, Pre-Position, Use,
Assemble & Disassemble.
 Ineffective/Non-Productive: Search,
Select, Position, Inspect, Plan,
Unavoidable Delay, Avoidable Delay,
Hold, Rest to overcome fatigue.
Uses
 To predict standard times for new or
modified jobs
 Used to improve method analysis
 Can identify ergonomic risk factors
and risk of repetitive strain indices
(RSI)
Composition
 Sets of motion-time tables with rules and
instructions
 Specialized training is essential to the
practical application of these techniques
 Times are at 100% - which eliminates
performance rating
 May be slight variability among different
people using the same tool
Types of Systems
 Acceleration-deceleration Systems
 Different body motions move at different velocities
 40% of total time is used during acceleration, 20% for
constant velocity, and 40% for deceleration
 Not widely used today
 Very important in fields of Biomechanics and Kinematics
 Average-motion Systems
 Represents average motion difficulties for industrial
operations
 Additive Systems
 Basic time values are used with a correction factor for
difficult motions
Methods-Time
Measurement (MTM)
 A procedure that analyses manual
operations or methods into basic
motions needed to perform it, and
assigns each a pre-determined time
based on the motion and
environmental conditions
MTM-1
 Fundamental Motions
 Reach, turn, position, release, move,
grasp, disengage
 Procedure
 Summarize all right-hand and left-hand
motions
 Determine time measurement unit
(TMU)
 Remove non-limiting motion values
Time Measurement Units
(TMU)
1 TMU = 0.00001 hour
1 TMU = 0.0006 min
1 TMU = 0.036 sec
1 hour = 100,000 TMU
1 min = 1667 TMU
1 sec = 27.8 TMU
Maynard Operation Sequence
Technique (MOST)
 Developed in 1980 by Zjell Zandin
 Establishes standards at least 5
times faster than MTM-1, w/little if
any sacrifice in accuracy
 Concentrates on the movements of
objects
MOST Procedure
 Watch job/task
 Determine sequence(s) to use
 Determine index values
 Add index values to determine TMU
 Multiply TMU by 10
 Convert TMU to seconds, minutes,
hours
Concept of MOST
 Definition of work
 Work is the displacement of a mass or
object
 Work = Force X Distance

f = 10 lbs. f = 10 lbs.
d = 4 in. d = 0 in.
Concept of MOST

In Work, an object is moved

GET and PUT
 For example, you can lift a box and place
it down three feet away.
 Basic body motions used to perform work
occur in repeating patterns or sequences.
 This is the foundation of BasicMOST and
the sequence models that make up MOST.
Concept of MOST
MOST Analysis

Method Description Sequence Model

Phases

Parameters (A, B, G…)

Index Values
(1, 3, 6…)
Concept of MOST

Method Description
 Documents the action performed
 Clear, concise and easily understood
 Comprised of recommended words

 Example:
 Grasp marker located three steps
away on the floor and put in holder.
Sequence Models

 Sequence models represent the sequence of events

that occurs when an object is moved or a tool is
used.
 Predefined sequence models represent different
types of activities.
 Three sequence models can be used to analyze all
types of manual work:
 General Move (moved freely through space)

 Controlled Move (movement restricted; attached

or in contact)
 Tool Use (using common hand tools)
Phases

 Sequence models are structured into phases

used to describe the action performed.
 Each of the predefined sequence models has
a different set of phases.
 From Method Description Example:
 Grasp marker located three steps away on the floor
and put in holder.

Phase: Get Put Return

How did I GET How did I PUT the Did I
the marker? marker? RETURN?
Index Values

A6 B6 G1 A 6 B0 P1 A0
Get Put Return
 Each parameter is assigned an index value
based on the motion needed to perform the
activity.
 Index values are then used to generate the
total time required to perform a task.
How is Work Measurement
Done?

Method Description from video:

 Grasp heavy box located within
reach, walk eight steps, position on
pallet and return to initial location.
A1 B0 G3 A 10B 0P 6 A 10
Get Put Return

300 TMU x .036 sec/TMU = 10.8 seconds

 How is Work Measurement
Done? TMU

Top Row
A1 B0 G3 A 10B 0P 6 A 10 300
Get Put Return

Middle Row
A1 B0 G3 A 10B 0P 1 A 10 250
Get Put Return

Bottom Row A1 B0 G3 A 10B 6P 3 A 10 330

Get Put Return
Sources of error & variance
 Hard to classify some motions
 Difference in opinion between team
members
 Variation in distance measurements
 Repeatability and variation of worker
 Very time-consuming to break up job
 Repetitive to enter in data
 May not match actual times
 Pro’s & Con’s
Advantages:
 Efficiently estimates the
time to perform a task
 Accurate results
 Methods are easily
understood
 Sequence models result in
minimal paperwork
 Encourages method
development and
continuous improvement
Disadvantages:
 Requires exact job
description and layout
 Chance of omitting
elements when
estimating new jobs
 Not always applicable
to non-repetitive
operations
Basic Sequence Models
 General Move
 The spatial movement of an object
freely through the air
 Controlled Move
 The movement of an object when it
either remains in contact with a surface
or remains attached to another object
during movement
 Tool Use
Basic Sequence Models
Activity Sequence Model Parameter

General ABG ABP A A – action distance

Move B – body motion
G – gain control
P – placement
Controlled ABG MXI A M – move controlled
Move X – process time
I – alignment
Tool Use ABG ABP * ABP A F/L – fasten/loosen
C – cut
S – surface treat
M – measure
R – record
T – think
General Move
 Parameters
 Action Distance (A) – horizontal distance
 Body Motion (B) – vertical distance
 Gain Control (G)
 Placement (P)
 ABG | ABP | A
 Get | Put | Return
 Assign an index value based on complexity
 Accounts for 50-60% of most industrial
work
General Move
MOST (PTS)
 When determining
the normal time
that it takes to
obtain an object,
Action Distance is
accounted for in
the calculation
MOST (PTS)
 As you can see,
Body Movement is
taken into account
for the calculation
Controlled Move
 Parameters:
 Action Distance (A) – horizontal distance
 Body Motion (B) – vertical distance
 Gain Control (G)
 Move Controlled (M)
 Process Time (X) – machine time
 Alignment (I)
 ABG | MXI | A
 Get | Move or Actuate | Return
Tool Use
 Parameters:
 Fasten (F)
 Loosen (L)
 Cut (C)
 Surface Treat (S)
 Measure (M)
 Record (R)
 Think (T)
 ABG | ABP | * | ABP | A
 Get | Put | Tool Action | Put | Return
Examples
 Example: Get a handful of washers and put
them onto 3 bolts located 5 inches apart.
 A1 B0 G3 (A1 B0 P1) A0 (3) = 100 TMU

 Example: A worker slides a ruler within reach

and pushes it 6 inches (15 cm) to measure two
points that are 8 inches apart.
 A1 B0 G1 M1 X0 I6 A0 = 90 TMU

 Example: Grasp wrench and fasten bolt with 3

wrist strokes and aside.
 A1 B0 G1 A1 B0 P3 F10 A1 B0 P1 A0 = 180 TMU
Other MOST Systems
 MiniMOST
 MaxiMOST
 AdminMOST

 MOST® Work Measurement Systems:

Third Edition, Revised and
Expanded, Kjell B. Zandin
Special Issues
 Work Factors  For instance, allows
the incorporation of stairs & gates
into PDTS models.
Questions & Comments