Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Time Study and Work Measurement - Definitions





Time Study

 
Time study is a work measurement technique for recording the time of perfoming a certain specific job or an element of a job carried under specified conditions, and for analysing the data so as to obtain the time necessary for an operator to carry it out at a defined rate of performance.

Time Study and Motion Study - Prof. Hugo Diemer


Time study is identifying smallest elements of a process and examining them as separate units.

What is the examination? Identifying time drivers. What explains the time taken to complete the element? What are manual effort elements? What are machine effort elements? Are they necessary? Can they be done in other ways to reduce time? Can they be done at higher speed?

Time study is done to find alternative ways of doing the elements in less time maintaining the quality of the output.


Industrial Organization and Management, La Salle Extension University, 1915.  p.197
You can read the full book on Google Books



TIME STUDY. A work measurement technique consisting of careful time measurement of the task with a time measuring instrument, adjusted for any observed variance from normal effort or pace and to allow adequate time for such items as foreign elements, unavoidable or machine delays, rest to overcome fatigue, and personal needs. Learning or progress effects may also be considered. If the task is of sufficient length, it is normally broken down into short, relatively homogenous work elements, each of which is treated separately as well as in combination with the rest.  (IISE Glossary https://www.iise.org/Details.aspx?id=2606)

Criticism of the definition: The definition does not capture the time study proposed by F.W. Taylor. Time study for Taylor is focused on elements that are common across various jobs and unique to particular jobs. So to do time study first, the time study person has to observe the job and break the job into elements that are common and unique. For common elements he has to consult a catalogue of items and select the best way of doing that element and time specified for that element. For unique elements he has to do stop watch measurement now. 

In the case of common elements, he has to observe the way the elements is being done currently and compare with the best way specification in the catalogue. He has to assess the feasibility of implementing the current best way in the job. If it is not feasible, he has to change the element into unique element. Otherwise, best way of doing the element will be specified for the job.

For unique element, the time study man has to measure time now. He has to record all relevant details of the job being done. Then he has to examine the element for improving various variables related to it. After the variables are improved he has to set the new specified time for this element only. That way, the time study person has to set time for various elements. For each element he has to add fatigue allowances. The time specified for a job has to be compiled from the catalogue of best practice of elements.  The standard time for the job is specified by adding allowances to the synthesized time for unavoidable delays on the shop floor. Taylor did not want a measurement of the complete job at a go for setting standards. Such measurements are to be used to validate the synthesized standard time.

The work measurement practice as developed by subsequently writers and endorsed by IISE without caveats resulted in the disappearance of improving the elements to reduce time.

Work Measurement for Recording Times in Process Charts is ignored in current work measurement theory. 


Read the lessons




TIME STUDY OBSERVATION SHEET. 


TIME STUDY OBSERVATION SHEET. A form for the systematic, detailed recording of element time values, and irregular occurrences observed during a time study. Generally, space is also provided for entering other pertinent information and for computation of standard times from the data. Syns: time study computation sheet, time study form. (IISE Glossary https://www.iise.org/Details.aspx?id=2606)

 

Time Study Equipment

 
To carry out time study, a stop watch, a study board and time study forms are required. Along with the study, some measurements of parts and distances moved by the operator etc. may need to be measured. Appropriate measuring instruments are used for such measurements.
 

Meylan has a wide variety of stopwatches .

(http://www.meylan.com/stopwatches.html)

All stopwatches are calibrated to the Atomic Clock.

Seven jewels minimum.

Mechanical and digital stopwatches.

Mechanical Split Stopwatches.

 
 
 
MEYLAN Time Study Boards
 
It is important to take studies on qualified workers when the job is done and is to be done by large number of workers.
 
A qualified worker is one who has acquired the skill, knowledge and other attributes to carry out the work in hand to satisfactory standards of quantity, quality and safety. (BSI: Glossary of terms used in management services, BSI 3138 , London 1991).
 

Steps in Making a Time Study

 
1. Study of standard method.
 
2. Recording the operative and the surrounding conditions at the time of study, which may affect the method of carrying the work and thereby time required to do the work.
 
3. Recording a complete description of the work as it is being carried out and breaking down the work or operation into elements for individual time determination.
 
4. Determination of the sample size
 
5. Measuring and recording the time taken using a stop watch for each element in the operation.
 
6. Along with measuring time, the time study person has to assess the effective speed of the operative relative to the rate corresponding to the standard rating.
 
7. Do the time study for the required sample size.
 
8. Extend the observed times to 'basic times'.
 
9. Determining the allowances to be provided.
 
10. Determining the 'standard time' for the operation.

STANDARD TIME. A unit time value for the accomplishment of a work task as determined by the proper application of appropriate work measurement techniques by qualified personnel. Generally established by applying appropriate allowances to normal time. Standard time and normal time are identical when nonproductive time is granted in lieu of allowances. (See NORMAL PERFORMANCE.) Syns: direct labor standard, engineered performance standard, engineered standard, output standard, production standard, time standard.

STANDARD ELEMENT TIME. A standard time for an individual work element. (See STANDARD TIME.)
IISE Glossary  https://www.iise.org/Details.aspx?id=2604
 
 

Standards Setting - Definition of Gerald Nadler

Standards setting techniques determine the time an operation or element of operation, performed with a given method under given job conditions, should take; when worked on by an operator with the necessary skill and given sufficient training to perform the operation properly, working at the pace, maintainable throughout the day, week, etc., specified as equivalent to the work necessary to earn base pay, and when all the operator's required activity and needs are provided for. (Page 304)

A Question Related to Time Study

Effort Rating or Pace Rating Standard in Stop Watch Time Study. 3 miles per hour. Do you agree. How many repetitions with 3 kg dumbbells can be done in 8 hours?
#IndustrialEngineering #Productivity  #CostReduction  #WorkMeasurement

For Further Study

 
www2.ie.psu.edu/Freivalds/courses/ie327new/CS10.htm
 
smartech.gatech.edu/dspace/handle/1853/25332
 
 
iem.csu.edu.tw/member/kaotc/WS/07.ppt
 
 
 
 
 
 
Time study manual
 
vig.pearsoned.co.uk/catalog/academic/product/0,1144,0130316709-PRE,00.html
 
sdmines.sdsmt.edu/upload/directory/materials/16649_20081001134406.ppt
 
 
 
Original knol - http://knol.google.com/k/narayana-rao/time-study/2utb2lsm2k7a/ 722

Ud. 20.4.2022,  21.3.2022, 26.2.2022,  18.1.2022,  9.1.2022
Pub 19.4.2012

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