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TherbligWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Therblig
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Therbligsare18kindsofelementalmotionsusedinthestudyofmotioneconomyintheworkplace.A
workplacetaskisanalyzedbyrecordingeachofthetherbligunitsforaprocess,withtheresultsusedfor
optimizationofmanuallaborbyeliminatingunneededmovements.
ThewordtherbligwasthecreationofFrankBunkerGilbrethandLillianMollerGilbreth,Americanindustrial
psychologistswhoinventedthefieldoftimeandmotionstudy.ItisareversalofthenameGilbreth,with'th'
transposed.

Contents
1
2
3
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5
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7

Thebasicmotionelements
Effectiveandineffectivebasicmotionelements
Exampleusage
History
Notes
References
Externallinks

Thebasicmotionelements
Abasicmotionelementisoneofasetoffundamental
motionsrequiredforaworkertoperformamanual
operationortask.Thesetconsistsof18elements,each
describingastandardizedactivity.
Transportempty[unloaded](TE):reachingforan
objectwithanemptyhand.(Nowcalled"Reach")
Grasp(G):graspinganobjectwiththeactivehand.
Transportloaded(TL):movinganobjectusingahand
motion.
Hold(H):holdinganobject.
Releaseload(RL):releasingcontrolofanobject.
Preposition(PP):positioningand/ororientingan
objectforthenextoperationandrelativetoan
approximationlocation.
Position(P):positioningand/ororientinganobjectin
thedefinedlocation.
The18therbligs.
Use(U):manipulatingatoolintheintendedway
duringthecourseworking.
Assemble(A):joiningtwopartstogether.
Disassemble(DA):separatingmultiplecomponentsthatwerejoined.
Search(Sh):attemptingtofindanobjectusingtheeyesandhands.
Select(St):choosingamongseveralobjectsinagroup.
Plan(Pn):decidingonacourseofaction.
Inspect(I):determiningthequalityorthecharacteristicsofanobjectusingtheeyesand/orothersenses.
Unavoidabledelay(UD):waitingduetofactorsbeyondtheworker'scontrolandincludedinthework
cycle.
Avoidabledelay(AD):waitingwithintheworker'scontrolwhichcausesidlenessthatisnotincludedin
theregularworkcycle.
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Rest(R):restingtoovercomeafatigue,consistingofapauseinthemotionsofthehandsand/orbody
duringtheworkcyclesorbetweenthem.
Find(F):AmomentarymentalreactionattheendoftheSearchcycle.Seldomused.

Effectiveandineffectivebasicmotionelements
Effective

Ineffective

Reach

Hold

Move

Rest

Grasp

Position

ReleaseLoad Search
Use

Select

Assemble

Plan

Disassemble UnavoidableDelay
PrePosition AvoidableDelay
Inspect

Exampleusage
Hereisanexampleofhowtherbligscanbeusedtoanalyzemotion:[1]
...Supposeamangoesintoabathroomandshave.We'llassumethathisfaceisalllatheredandthat
heisreadytopickuphisrazor.Heknowswheretherazoris,butfirsthemustlocateitwithhis
eye.Thatis"search",thefirstTherblig.Hiseyefindsitandcomestorestthat's"find",the
secondTherblig.Thirdcomes"select",theprocessofslidingtherazorpriortothefourthTherblig,
"grasp."Fifthis"transportloaded,"bringingtherazoruptohisface,andsixthis"position,"getting
therazorsetonhisface.ThereareelevenotherTherbligsthelastoneis"think"!
FrankGilbreth,Jr.andErnestineGilbrethCarey,CheaperBytheDozen

History
Inanarticlepublishedin1915,FrankGilbrethwroteof16elements:"Theelementsofacycleofdecisionsand
motions,eitherrunningpartlyorwhollyconcurrentlywithotherelementsinthesameorothercycles,consistof
thefollowing,arrangedinvaryingsequences:1.Search,2.Find,3.Select,4.Grasp,5.Position,6.Assemble,
7.Use,8.Dissemble,ortakeapart,9.Inspect,10.Transport,loaded,11.Prepositionfornextoperation,12.
Releaseload,13.Transport,empty,14.Wait(unavoidabledelay),15.Wait(avoidabledelay),16.Rest(for
overcomingfatigue)."(MotionStudyfortheCrippledSoldier,inJournaloftheAmericanSocietyof
MechanicalEngineers,December1915,page671.)

Notes
1.FrankB.Gilbreth,Jr.&ErnestineGilbrethCarey(1948).CheaperBytheDozen(2005ed.).NewYork:
HarperCollins.pp.110111.ISBN9780060763138.

References
Gilbreth,FrankCarey,ErnestineGilbreth(1948).CheaperbytheDozen.
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Aft,Lawrence(2000).WorkMeasurementandMethodsImprovement.NewYork:JohnWiley&Sons,
Inc.ISBN0471370894.
Singleton,W.(1982).TheBodyatWork.Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress.ISBN0521240875.
*Groover,MakellP.(2007).WorkSystems,Methods,MeasurementandManagementofWork.Upper
SaddleRiver,NJ07458:PearsonPrenticeHall,PearsonEducation,Inc.ISBN0131355694.

Externallinks
TheGilbrethNetwork:Therbligs(http://gilbrethnetwork.tripod.co
m/therbligs.html)

Lookuptherbligin
Wiktionary,thefree
dictionary.

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