2. WORK STUDY-METHOD STUDY
• Industry is trying hard to discover new work methods and techniques which could help produce
goods of required quality at reasonable costs.
• Work simplification, job design, value analysis, etc. are some methods discovered for the purpose.
• These methods are called as ‘METHIDS ENGINEERING’, ‘INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING’,
‘WORK DESIGN’, ‘WORK STUDY’, ‘METHOD ANALYSIS’, ‘OPERATION ANALYSIS’.
• Work study method was designed to improve the performance of a given work.
• Employees need to work harder, more productive, lower production costs needed.
• High product quality is needed and improving the manufacturing methods.
• So work study an method study are areas under special attention of operations managers.
3. WORK STUDY-METHOD STUDY
• Work study method was developed to improve the performance of a given work.
• Work study is defined as the body of knowledge concerned with the analysis of the work
methods and the equipments used in performing a job, the design of an optimum work method
and standardization of proposed work methods.
• Work study is a management tool to achieve higher productivity in any organisation whether
manufacturing tangible products or offering services to its customers.
• Work study is a systematic, objective and critical examination of the factors affecting
productivity for the purpose of improvement.
• It ensures best possible use of human and material resources in carrying out a specific activity.
4. • To analyze the present method of doing a job, systematically in order to develop a new
and better method.
• To measure the work content of a job by measuring the time required to do the job for a
qualified worker and hence to establish a standard time.
• To increase the productivity by ensuring the best possible use of human, machine and
material resources and to achieve best quality product/service at minimum possible cost.
• To improve operational efficiency.
WORK STUDY OBJECTIVES
5. • Increased productivity and operational efficiency.
• Reduced manufacturing costs.
• Improved work place layout.
• Better manpower planning and capacity planning.
• Fair wages to employees.
• Better working conditions to employees.
• Improved work flow.
• Reduced material handling costs.
• Provides a standard of performance to measure labor efficiency.
• Better industrial relations and employee morale.
• Basis for sound incentive scheme.
• Provides better job satisfaction to employees.
BENEFITS OF WORK STUDY
6. • There are 8 steps for conducting the work study.
• SELECT the job or the process or the operation to be studied.
• RECORD all relevant facts about the job or operation using suitable charting techniques such as operation
process chart, flow process chart, flow diagrams, SIMO (simultaneous motion chart) chart and man-
machine chart.
• EXAMINE critically all the recorded facts, questioning the purpose, place, sequence, person and the
means of doing the job/process/operation.
• DEVELOP the new method for the job/process/operation.
• MEASURE the work content and establish the standard time using an appropriate work measurement
technique.
• DEFINE the new method for the job/process/operations.
• INSTALL the new method as standard practice.
• MAINTAIN the new method fro the job/process/operation.
BASIC WORK STUDY PROCEDURE
7. • Work Methods analysis or method study is a scientific technique of observing, recording and
critically examining the present method of performing a task or an operation.
• It aims at improving the present method and developing a new and cheaper method.
• It is also called as method improvement or work improvement.
• It includes the study of work processes, working conditions and equipments and tools to carry out
the job.
• It is a systematic recording and critical examination of existing and proposed way of doing work.
METHOD STUDY OR METHOD ANALYSIS
8. • To study the existing proposed method of doing any job, operation and activity.
• To develop an improved productivity and to reduce operating costs.
• To reduce excessive material handling or movement and so reduces the fatigue caused to the
workmen.
• To improvise utilization of the resources.
• To eliminate wasteful and inefficient motions.
• To standardize work methods or processes, working conditions, machinery, equipments and
tools.
OBJECTIVES OF METHOD STUDY
9. • Work simplification.
• Improved working method
• Better product quality
• Improved workplace layout
• Improved equipment design
• Better working conditions.
• Better material handling and lesser material costs
• Improved work flow
• Less fatigue to operator
• Optimum utilization of all resources.
• Higher safety to workmen
• Shorter production cycle time.
• Higher job satisfaction for workmen.
• Reduced material consumption and wastages.
• Reduced manufacturing cost and higher productivity.
ADVANTAGES OF METHOD STUDY
10. • The various steps in method study are;
1. SELECT the work or job to be studied and define the objectives to be achieved by the method study. The
job should have scope of work improvement through reduction of excessive material handling and fatigue to
workmen, scope for improving the working conditions and utilization of resources.
2. RECORD: All the relevant facts related to existing methods using the recording techniques such as-
• Process Charts:
1. Outline process charts
2. Operation process charts
3. Flow process chart-material type
4. Man-machine chart
5. Two-handed process chart
6. Multiple activity chart
7. Simultaneous Motion Charts (SIMO) Charts
8. Motion Charts
9. Film Analysis Charts
• Diagrams such as;
1. Flow diagrams
2. String Diagrams
3. Cycle Graphs
4. Chronocycligraphs
METHOD STUDY PROCEDURE
11. 3. EXAMINE the recorded facts critically challenging everything being done and seeking alternatives,
questioning the purpose, the means, sequence, place, and the person.
4. DEVELOP: The improved method by generating several alternatives and selecting the best method. The
factors to be considered while evaluating alternatives and selecting the best methods are:
1. Cost of implementation.
2. Expected savings in time and cost.
3. Feasibility.
4. Producibility.
5. Acceptance to design, production planning and control, quality control production and sales
departments.
6. Reaction of employees to the new methods.
7. Short term or long term implication of the alternative.
5. INSTALL the new improved method in 3 phases- planning, arranging and implementing phases. The
implementation phase involves the introduction of the developed methods as standard practice to achieve
the desired results.
6. MAINTAIN the new method by ensuring that the installed method is functioning well. This is done by
periodic checks and verifications at regular intervals. Proper control procedures are used to ensure that the
new method is practiced to achieve the benefits of methods study and also to achieve higher productivity.
METHOD STUDY PROCEDURE
12. 1. Method Study and Work Measurement are 2 techniques of work study.
2. Work Measurement establishes the work content of a job.
3. Work content of a job can be accurately established only after the method of doing a job is standardized.
4. Method study and Work Measurement are important elements in achieving higher labor productivity.
5. Work Measurement is defined as, ‘ Application of techniques designed to establish the work content of a
specified task by determining the time required for carrying out the task at a defined standard of
performance by a qualified worker’.
6. International Labour Organisation defined ‘QUALIFIED WORKER’ as, ‘one who is accepted as having the
necessary physical attributes, possessing the required intelligence and education and having acquired the
necessary skill and knowledge to carry out the work in hand to satisfactory standards of safety, quantity and
quality’.
WORK MEASUREMENT
13. 1. Simply, Work Measurement is technique applied to determine the amount of time necessary for a qualified
worker to perform a particular task.
2. “Time Standard”, “Work Standard”, “Labour Standard”, “Production Standard”, “Standard Time” words are
used to express the time needed by a job to be completed.
3. “Standard Time” is the time required by the qualified worker, working at normal rate of speed, will require to
perform the specified task.(units od output per hour).
4. Work Measurement identifies the human effectiveness.
5. It compares one method to another for developing labour standards.
WORK MEASUREMENT
14. 1. Improved planning and control of activities or operations.
2. More efficient manning of the plant.
3. Reliable indices for labour performance.
4. Reliable basis for labour cost control.
5. Basis for sound incentive schemes.
OBJECTIVES OF WORK MEASUREMENT
15. 1. To compare alternate methods developed in method study on the basis of work content in each
method.
2. To prepare a realistic work schedules by accurate assessment of human work.
3. Setting standards of performances for labour utilization by establishing labour standards for an
element of work, operation under normal condition.
4. To compare actual time taken by the worker with the allowed time fro proper control of labour.
5. To assist on labour cost estimation.
6. To provide information related to estimation of tenders, fixation of selling price and assessment of
delivery schedule.
BENEFITS OF WORK MEASUREMENT
16. 1. Direct time study
2. Synthetic Method.
3. Analytical Estimating
4. Pre-determined Motion Time System (PMTS).
5. Work Sampling or Activity Sampling or Ration Delay Method.
TECHNIQUES OF WORK MEASUREMENT
17. The various Steps are:
1. Break the jobs into elements
2. Record the observed time for each element by means of either time study, synthesis or analytical estimating.
3. Establish elemental time values by extending observed time into normal time for each element by applying a
rating factor.
4. Assess relaxation allowances for personal needs and physical and mental fatigue involved in carrying out each
element.
5. Add the relaxation allowance time to the normal time for each element to arrive at the work content.
6. Determine the frequency of occurrences of each elements in the job. (multiply work content with its
frequency) and up to the times to arrive at the work content of job.
7. Add contingency allowance if any to arrive at the standard time to do the job.
STEPS IN WORK MEASUREMENT
18. STEPS IN WORK MEASUREMENT
OBSERVED TIME
NORMAL TIME
WORK CONTENT
STANDARD TIME
APPLY RATING FACTOR
ADD RELAXATION
ALLOWANCES
ADD CONTINGENCY
AND OTHER
ALLOWANCE IF
REQUIRED
19. • The classical stop watch study is widely used for the time study method.
• A time study involves the timing of a sample of a worker’s performance and using it to set a standard.
• These 8 steps are followed:
1. Define the task to be studied (after method study)
2. Divide the task into precise elements (a few second parts each)
3. Decide how many to measure a task (the number of job cycles or samples needed)
4. Time and record the elemental times and ratings of the performance.
5. Compute the average observed (actual) time.
6. Determine the performance rating (work pace) and then compute the normal time for each element.
7. Add the normal times for each element to develop a total normal time for the task.
8. Compute the standard time. This adjustment to the total normal time provides for the allowances such as
personal needs, unavoidable work delays, and worker fatigue:
TIME STUDIES METHODS AND CALCULATIONS
20. • Average observed time =
𝑆𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑏𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠
• Normal Time = (Average observed time) x (Performance Rating Factor)
• Standard Time =
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑁𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
1−𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
TIME STUDY CALCULATIONS
21. Q1. Red Lobster restaurant yielded an average observed time of 4.0 minutes. The analyst rated the observed worker at
85%. This means the worker performed at 85% of the normal when the study was made. The firm uses a 13% allowance
factor. Red Lobster wants to compute the normal time and standard time for this operation.
Solution:
Q2. Management Science Associates promotes its management development seminars by mailing thousands of
individually composed and typed letters to various firms. A time study has been conducted on the task of preparing letters
for mailing. Management Science Associates wants to develop a time standard for this task. The firm’s personal, delay, and
fatigue allowance factor is 15%.
OBSERVATIONS (MINUTES)
Job Element 1 2 3 4 5 Performance Rating
Compose And Type Letters 8 10 9 21* 11 120%
Type Envelope And Address 2 6 2 1 3 105%
Stuff, Stamp, Seal And Sort Envelope 2 1 5* 2 1 110%
22. • Required Sample Size for time studies = n =
𝑧𝑠
ℎ 𝑥
2
h = accuracy level desired in percent of the job element, expressed as decimal (5%)
z = number of standard deviations required for desired level of confidence
s = standard deviation of the initial sample
𝑥 = mean of initial sample
n = required no. of sample.
Q1. Thomas Co. has asked you to check the labour standard prepared by a
recently terminated analyst. Find the correct sample size. Accuracy should be
within 5% limit and confidence level at 95%. The standard deviation of the
sample is 1.0 and mean is 3.0.
TIME STUDY CALCULATIONS
23. THANK YOU
References:
1. Kumar, S. Anil; Suresh, N., ‘Operations Management’, New Age International Publishers, 2e.
2. Heizer, Jay; Render, Barry; Rajashekhar, Jagadeesh, ‘Operations Management’, Pearson, 9e.
3. Chary, S N, ‘Production & Operations Management’, McGraw-Hill Companies, 4e.
4. Ashwathappa, K.; Bhat, K. Shridhara, ‘Productions and Operations Management’, Himalaya
Publishing House, 2e.