Work sampling

Work sampling method

was original developed
by Leonard Henry
Caleb Tippett (1902-
1985) in Britain in
1934. In this
technique, the workers
are observed many
times at random. It is
done to find out for
how much time the
worker is actually
on the job. It checks
how long he is working
and how much time he
is not working (idle
time).
Work sampling method
does not involve stop
watch measurement.
The purpose of work
sampling technique is
to estimate
what proportion of a
worker’s time is
devoted to work-
related activities.
Work sampling method
involves following
three main steps:
Deciding what
activities are defined
as ’working’. Non-
working are those
activities which are not
defined as working.
Observe the worker at
selected intervals and
record (write down)
whether he is working
or not.
Calculate the portion
of time (P), a worker is
working.
A portion of time (P) a
worker is working
equals to ’Number of
observations during
which working
occurred’ divided by
’Total
Number of
observations.’
The above calculation
is used as a
performance standard.
Advantages of Work
Sampling
The benefits or
advantages of work
sampling method are
as follows:
Work sampling gives
an unbiased result
since workmen are not
under close
observation.
A work sampling study
may be interrupted at
any time without
affecting the results.
Work sampling can be
conducted by anyone
with limited training.
There is no need to
have experts.
Team work can be
studied by work
sampling and not by
the time-study.
Work sampling is
economical and less
time-consuming than
time study. This is
because more than
one worker can be
studied at the same
time. Secondly,
observer needs not to
be present himself for
a long time.
Disadvantages of Work
Sampling
The limitations or
disadvantages of work
sampling method are
as follows:
Work sampling is not
economical for short
cycle jobs. It is also
uneconomical to study
a single worker or
even small group
of workers.
Unlike time study, it
does not allow a small
breakdown of activities
and delays.
Working men may
change their normal
method of working
when they see an
observer. Therefore,
the results from the
work
study may not be
accurate.
In work sampling
method, the
observations are
limited or insufficient.
So, the results may not
be accurate.
This method normally
does not record the
workers' speed of
working
Work sampling
Work sampling method
was original developed
by Leonard Henry
Caleb Tippett (1902-
1985) in Britain in
1934. In this
technique, the workers
are observed many
times at random. It is
done to find out for
how much time the
worker is actually
on the job. It checks
how long he is working
and how much time he
is not working (idle
time).
Work sampling method
does not involve stop
watch measurement.
The purpose of work
sampling technique is
to estimate
what proportion of a
worker’s time is
devoted to work-
related activities.
Work sampling method
involves following
three main steps:
Deciding what
activities are defined
as ’working’. Non-
working are those
activities which are not
defined as working.
Observe the worker at
selected intervals and
record (write down)
whether he is working
or not.
Calculate the portion
of time (P), a worker is
working.
A portion of time (P) a
worker is working
equals to ’Number of
observations during
which working
occurred’ divided by
’Total
Number of
observations.’
The above calculation
is used as a
performance standard.
Advantages of Work
Sampling
The benefits or
advantages of work
sampling method are
as follows:
Work sampling gives
an unbiased result
since workmen are not
under close
observation.
A work sampling study
may be interrupted at
any time without
affecting the results.
Work sampling can be
conducted by anyone
with limited training.
There is no need to
have experts.
Team work can be
studied by work
sampling and not by
the time-study.
Work sampling is
economical and less
time-consuming than
time study. This is
because more than
one worker can be
studied at the same
time. Secondly,
observer needs not to
be present himself for
a long time.
Disadvantages of Work
Sampling
The limitations or
disadvantages of work
sampling method are
as follows:
Work sampling is not
economical for short
cycle jobs. It is also
uneconomical to study
a single worker or
even small group
of workers.
Unlike time study, it
does not allow a small
breakdown of activities
and delays.
Working men may
change their normal
method of working
when they see an
observer. Therefore,
the results from the
work
study may not be
accurate.
In work sampling
method, the
observations are
limited or insufficient.
So, the results may not
be accurate.
This method normally
does not record the
workers' speed of
working
Work sampling
Work sampling method
was original developed
by Leonard Henry
Caleb Tippett (1902-
1985) in Britain in
1934. In this
technique, the workers
are observed many
times at random. It is
done to find out for
how much time the
worker is actually
on the job. It checks
how long he is working
and how much time he
is not working (idle
time).
Work sampling method
does not involve stop
watch measurement.
The purpose of work
sampling technique is
to estimate
what proportion of a
worker’s time is
devoted to work-
related activities.
Work sampling method
involves following
three main steps:
Deciding what
activities are defined
as ’working’. Non-
working are those
activities which are not
defined as working.
Observe the worker at
selected intervals and
record (write down)
whether he is working
or not.
Calculate the portion
of time (P), a worker is
working.
A portion of time (P) a
worker is working
equals to ’Number of
observations during
which working
occurred’ divided by
’Total
Number of
observations.’
The above calculation
is used as a
performance standard.
Advantages of Work
Sampling
The benefits or
advantages of work
sampling method are
as follows:
Work sampling gives
an unbiased result
since workmen are not
under close
observation.
A work sampling study
may be interrupted at
any time without
affecting the results.
Work sampling can be
conducted by anyone
with limited training.
There is no need to
have experts.
Team work can be
studied by work
sampling and not by
the time-study.
Work sampling is
economical and less
time-consuming than
time study. This is
because more than
one worker can be
studied at the same
time. Secondly,
observer needs not to
be present himself for
a long time.
Disadvantages of Work
Sampling
The limitations or
disadvantages of work
sampling method are
as follows:
Work sampling is not
economical for short
cycle jobs. It is also
uneconomical to study
a single worker or
even small group
of workers.
Unlike time study, it
does not allow a small
breakdown of activities
and delays.
Working men may
change their normal
method of working
when they see an
observer. Therefore,
the results from the
work
study may not be
accurate.
In work sampling
method, the
observations are
limited or insufficient.
So, the results may not
be accurate.
This method normally
does not record the
workers' speed of
working
Work sampling
Work sampling method
was original developed
by Leonard Henry
Caleb Tippett (1902-
1985) in Britain in
1934. In this
technique, the workers
are observed many
times at random. It is
done to find out for
how much time the
worker is actually
on the job. It checks
how long he is working
and how much time he
is not working (idle
time).
Work sampling method
does not involve stop
watch measurement.
The purpose of work
sampling technique is
to estimate
what proportion of a
worker’s time is
devoted to work-
related activities.
Work sampling method
involves following
three main steps:
Deciding what
activities are defined
as ’working’. Non-
working are those
activities which are not
defined as working.
Observe the worker at
selected intervals and
record (write down)
whether he is working
or not.
Calculate the portion
of time (P), a worker is
working.
A portion of time (P) a
worker is working
equals to ’Number of
observations during
which working
occurred’ divided by
’Total
Number of
observations.’
The above calculation
is used as a
performance standard.
Advantages of Work
Sampling
The benefits or
advantages of work
sampling method are
as follows:
Work sampling gives
an unbiased result
since workmen are not
under close
observation.
A work sampling study
may be interrupted at
any time without
affecting the results.
Work sampling can be
conducted by anyone
with limited training.
There is no need to
have experts.
Team work can be
studied by work
sampling and not by
the time-study.
Work sampling is
economical and less
time-consuming than
time study. This is
because more than
one worker can be
studied at the same
time. Secondly,
observer needs not to
be present himself for
a long time.
Disadvantages of Work
Sampling
The limitations or
disadvantages of work
sampling method are
as follows:
Work sampling is not
economical for short
cycle jobs. It is also
uneconomical to study
a single worker or
even small group
of workers.
Unlike time study, it
does not allow a small
breakdown of activities
and delays.
Working men may
change their normal
method of working
when they see an
observer. Therefore,
the results from the
work
study may not be
accurate.
In work sampling
method, the
observations are
limited or insufficient.
So, the results may not
be accurate.
This method normally
does not record the
workers' speed of
working
TOPIC: Work sampling

Work sampling method

was original developed
by Leonard Henry
Caleb Tippett (1902-
1985) in Britain in
1934. In this
technique, the workers
are observed many
times at random. It is
done to find out for
how much time the
worker is actually
on the job. It checks
how long he is working
and how much time he
is not working (idle
time).
Work sampling method
does not involve stop
watch measurement.
The purpose of work
sampling technique is
to estimate
what proportion of a
worker’s time is
devoted to work-
related activities.
Work sampling method was original developed by Leonard Henry Caleb Tippett (1902-1985) in

Britain in 1934. “Work sampling is a method in which a large number of instantaneous

observations are made at random time intervals over a period of time or a group of machines,

workers or processes/operations. Each observation records what is happening at that instant and

the percentage of observations recorded for a particular activity or delay/idleness is a measure of

the percentage of time during which that activity or delay/idleness occurs”.

Work sampling has a long and impressive list of applications but all of them fall into one of

the following three categories:

(i) Work sampling can be used as ratio study of working and idle times.

(ii) It can be utilized as performance sampling study in which working and idleness on working

times are measured and a performance index is prepared.

(iii) It can be used as a work measurement technique.

Work sampling is a sampling method and depends upon the laws of probability. A sample taken

at random from a large population provides a good estimate of the distribution of the population.

To make it clearer, let us consider the following example.

A worker while working during his shift either does the job assigned to him or remains idle for

one or the other reason. The following table shows that out of total 50 observations, there were

45 working observations and five idle observations.

State of worker No of observations

Working 45

Idle 5

This table indicates the working time and idle time.

In this Example, the idle time percentage would be 5/50 x 100 = 10%

Working time would be 45/50 x 100 = 90%

This investigation is for one worker for a shift of 8 hours a day and indicates that the operator

was idle for 10% or 48 minutes in a shift of 8 hours (480 minutes) while working for 90% or 432

minutes in one shift.

Characteristics of work sampling study

The study of work sampling has some general characteristics related to the work condition:

 One of them is the sufficient time available to perform the study. A work sampling study
usually requires a substantial period of time to complete. There must be enough time
available (several weeks or more) to conduct the study.
 Another characteristic is multiple workers. Work sampling is commonly used to study the
activities of multiple workers rather than one worker.
 The third characteristic is long cycle time. The job covered in the study has relatively a
long cycle time.
 The last condition is the non-repetitive work cycles. The work is not highly repetitive.
The jobs consist of various tasks rather than a single repetitive task. However, it must be
possible to classify the work activities into a distinct number of categories.

Steps in conducting a work sampling study

There are several recommended steps when starting to prepare a work sampling study:

1. Define the manufacturing tasks for which the standard time is to be determined.
2. Define the task elements. These are the defined broken-down steps of the task that will be
observed during the study. Since a worker is going to be observed, additional categories
will likely be included as well, such as "idle", "waiting for work", and "absent".
3. Design the study. This includes designing the forms that will be used to record the
observations, determining how many observations will be required, deciding on the
number of days or shifts to be included in the study, scheduling the observations, and
finally determining the number of observers needed.
4. Identify the observers who will do the sampling.
5. Start the study. All those who are affected by the study should be informed about it.
6. Make random visits to the plant and collect the observations.
7. After completing the study, analyze and present the results. This is done by preparing a
report that summarizes and analyzes all data and making recommendations when
required.

Advantages of “Work Sampling”

1. Operator is not subjected to long-period of observations.

2. Group operations can be easily studied by a single analyst.

3. It does not require continuous observation for a long period of time.

4. Many operations or activities which are impractical or costly to be measured by time study can
be measured by this.

5. Observations may be taken over a period of days or weeks, thus decreasing the chance of day
to day or week to week variations affecting the results.
6. The man hours spent by the analyst are much less.

7. A work sampling study can be stopped at any time without affecting the results.

8. In this, random observations are taken by avoiding prolonged observations.

9. This produces less fatigue and are less tedious to observer.

10. It generally requires less time in calculating the results.

11. No stop-watch or any other timing device is needed.

12. Clerical time is minimised.

Disadvantages of “Work Sampling”

1. It is not economical to study a single operator or machine or for studying operators or
machines located over wide areas.

2. It does not permit finer breakdown of activities and delays.

3. Study made of a group presents average while there is no information about the magnitude of
individual differences.

4. Management and workers may not be able to understand work sampling as easily as they do
time study.

5. Some-time no record is kept about the study on the operator, therefore, a new study must be
made when a change occurs in any element.