Motion Study

Motion Study and Work Design
Chapter 10
Sections:
1. Basic Motion Elements and Work
Analysis
2. Principles of Motion Economy and
Work Design
Definitions
Motion study
Analysis of the basic hand, arm, and body
movements of workers as they perform work
Work design
Design of the methods and motions used to perform
a task
Design of the work system
Includes:
Workplace layout and environment
Tooling and equipment used in the task such as
workholders, fixtures, power tools, etc.
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
Basic Motion Elements

Frank Gilbreth first to analyze and classify
the basic motion elements

Basic Motion Elements (continued)

Therbligs 17 basic motion elements
Some of the motion element names and definitions
have been revised
Therbligs 17 basic motion elements

Spelled backward except for th
Involves both physical and mental elements
Basic building blocks of virtually all manual work

performed at a single location (so the primary interest
is the hand motions)
Although it is first used in production and logistics,

the principles are also applicable to service industry.
With modification, used today in several work

measurement systems, e.g., MTM (Methods-Time
Measurement)
17 Therbligs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Transport empty (TE) reach for an object

with empty hand today we call it reach
Grasp (G) grasp an object by contacting
and closing the fingers until control has been
achived
Transport loaded (TL) move an object with
hand and arm today we call it move
Hold (H) hold an object with one hand
Release load (RL) release control of an
object
Use (U) manipulate/use a tool

17 Therbligs (continued)
7. Pre
- position (PP) position object for next
operation
8. Position (P) position object in defined
location
9. Assemble (A) join two parts
10. Disassemble (DA) seperate multiple parts
that were previously joined
11. Search (Sh) attempt to find an object using
eyes or hand

17 Therbligs (continued)
Therbligs
12. Select (St) choose among several objects

in a group (hand
- eye coordination is
involved)
13. Plan (Pn) decide on an action (a short
pause or hesitation in the motions)
14. Inspect (I) determine quality of object using
the eyes
15. Unavoidable delay (UD) waiting due to
factors beyond worker control
16. Avoidable delay (AD) worker waiting
17. Rest (R) resting to overcome fatigue
Therbligs

Therbligs


Therbligs

Therbligs

Example
Classification of Therbligs
Effective therbligs:
Physical
Basic
Motion
Elements:
Transport empty
Grasp
Transport loaded
Release load
Use
Assemble
Disassemble
Mental Basic Elements:
Inspect
Delay Elements:
Rest

Method study at the therblig level seeks to

eliminate or reduce ineffective therbligs.
Micromotion Analysis
The main idea of method study at the therblig
level: seeks to eliminate or reduce ineffective
therbligs.
Ineffective therbligs:
Physical Basic Motion Elements:
Hold
Pre-position
Physical and Mental Basic Motion
Elements:
Position
Search
Select
Mental Basic Elements:
Plan
Delay elements:
Unavoidable delay
Avoidable delay
Micromotion Analysis
Analysis of therbligs that make up a repetitive
task
Objectives:
Each therblig represents time and energy

expended by a worker.
If task is repetitive, this will be performed many
times. Then, it becomes meaningul to analyze
therbligs.
Known as micromotion analysis

Eliminate ineffective therbligs if possible

Avoid holding objects with hand Use workholder
Combine therbligs Perform right-hand and left-hand
motions simultaneously
Simplify overall method
Reduce time for a motion, e.g., shorten distance
Checklists:
Checklist1 (discussed in the in class)
Checklist2 (given in the book Table 10.3)
Principles of Motion Economy
Three Categories of Principles
Developed over many years of practical experience in

work design
1.
Principles that apply to the use of the human

body
Guidelines to help determine

Work method
Workplace layout
Tools, and equipment
2.
Principles that apply to the workplace

arrangement
Objective: to maximize efficiency and minimize worker

fatigue
3.
Principles that apply to the design of tooling

and equipment
Many people dont understand why these principles are

necessary, but you know that these principles are
violated in work systems (think about your summer
training).

Use of Human Body
An experiment
Most applicable to manual work

1.
Design work to fully utilize both hands
2.
The two hands should begin and end their motions at the
same time to distribute the work equally to hands
3.
Hand and arm motions should be symmetrical and

simultaneous to minimize hand/arm-eye coordination

Avoid different independent motions of hands/arms
4.
5.
A relatively simple task

Reaching, selecting, grasping, transporting, releasing
small parts.
Two types of containers
A rectangular bin
A bin with a tray
The worker performed the work cycle with each
container using
Only the right hand
Only the left hand
Both
hands
performing
symmetrical
and
simultaneous motions.
Design work to favor preferred hand

Work units should enter the workplace on the side of the
workers preferred hand
Workers two hands should not be idle at the same time
except for the rest breaks
Work Systems
and the
Methods,
Measurement,
and Management
Dont
forget
that
not
all tasks
canof Work
be organized according to
2007 Pearson
Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
these
principles.

Use of Human Body

Utilize laws of physics
6.
Method should consist of smooth continuous curved motions
rather than straight motions with abrupt changes in direction

7.
0.72 sec /
work unit
0.54 sec /
work unit

Although shortest distance between two points is a straight line

Because straight-line path sequence includes start and stop
actions (accelerations and decelerations) consume workers
time and energy
Use momentum (mass * velocity) to facilitate task

Carpenter using a hammer to strike a nail
8.
Take advantage of gravity Dont oppose it
9.
Method should achieve a natural rhythm of the motions

involved
Use of Human Body

10. Use lowest classification of hand and arm
motion (five classifications)
1) Finger
2) Finger and wrist
3) Finger, wrist, and forearm
4) Finger, wrist, forearm, and upper arm
5) Finger, wrist, forearm, upper arm, and
shoulder

Movement of the fingers only as when picking up

a cotton roll.
II
Fingers and wrist motion as used when

transferring an instrument to the operator,
or manipulating a hand instrument.

III
IV
Fingers, wrist, and forearm as when

reaching for a handpiece.
The entire arm and shoulder as when

turning around to reach for equipment
from adjacent fixed cabinetry.
The entire arm when reaching for supplies

away from the work area, or to adjust the
operating light.


Use of Human Body

For using body members other than the hands,
and arms
11. Minimize eye focus and travel
Design of the workplace

1.
Locate tools and materials in fixed positions within the

work area
2.
Locate tools and materials close to where they are

used

To minimize the distances to be covered
3.
Locate tools and materials to be consistent with

sequence of work elements

Decrease the time required for searching
Minimize the distance between the object
12. Design method to utilize feet and legs where

appropriate
Workplace Arrangement
Since they are stronger than arms


Normal and maximum working areas in the
workplace
Design for
average
user


Illustration of First Three Principles
Illustration of First Three Principles
Poor arrangement of parts and tools in workplace
Good arrangement of parts and tools in workplace
Numbers indicate the sequence of operations
Numbers indicate the sequence of operations


4.
Use gravity feed bins to deliver small parts

and fasteners
Two types of bins

used for small parts
and fasteners in the
workplace:
(a) gravity feed bin
(b) conventional
rectangular bin
5. Use gravity drop chutes for completed work
units where appropriate
6. Provide adequate illumination
7. A proper chair should be provided for the

worker
Adjustable to the size of the worker
Seat height and back adjustments
Padded seat and back


Adjustable Chair for Workplace
Design of Tooling and Equipment

1.
Workholding devices should be designed for the task
2.
Hands should be relieved of work elements that can

be performed by the feet using foot pedals
sewing machine
Combine multiple functions into one tool where

possible
Pencils designed for writing and erasing
3.
4.

Also color, constrast among items, location of the

light source are important
Perform multiple operations simultaneously rather

than sequentially

Multiple-spindle drill presses to drill holes in PCBs
Design of Tooling and Equipment

5.
Where feasible, perform operation on multiple parts

simultaneously
6.
7.
Controls should be located within easy reach to minimize

the body motions required to access them
Hand tools and portable power tools should be

designed for operator comfort and convenience
8.
Machines in a cake factory
Design equipment controls for operator convenience

and error avoidance
e.g. tools that can accomodate both right-handed and

left-handed workers
Mechanize or automate manual

economically and technically feasible
operations
if

Motion Study

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Motion Study

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Motion Study and Work Design

Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

Basic Motion Elements

Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

Basic Motion Elements (continued)

Therbligs 17 basic motion elements

Involves both physical and mental elements

Basic building blocks of virtually all manual work

Although it is first used in production and logistics,

With modification, used today in several work

Transport empty (TE) reach for an object

Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

12. Select (St) choose among several objects

Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

Method study at the therblig level seeks to

Each therblig represents time and energy

Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

Eliminate ineffective therbligs if possible

Principles of Motion Economy

Three Categories of Principles

Developed over many years of practical experience in

Principles that apply to the use of the human

Guidelines to help determine

Principles that apply to the workplace

Objective: to maximize efficiency and minimize worker

Principles that apply to the design of tooling

Many people dont understand why these principles are

Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

Use of Human Body

Most applicable to manual work

Hand and arm motions should be symmetrical and

A relatively simple task

Design work to favor preferred hand

Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

Use of Human Body

Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

Although shortest distance between two points is a straight line

Use momentum (mass * velocity) to facilitate task

Take advantage of gravity Dont oppose it

Method should achieve a natural rhythm of the motions

Use of Human Body

Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

Movement of the fingers only as when picking up

Fingers and wrist motion as used when

Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

Fingers, wrist, and forearm as when

The entire arm and shoulder as when

The entire arm when reaching for supplies

Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

Use of Human Body

Design of the workplace

Locate tools and materials in fixed positions within the

Locate tools and materials close to where they are

Locate tools and materials to be consistent with

Minimize the distance between the object

12. Design method to utilize feet and legs where