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M.O.S.T. – Advanced Work Measurement Technique

Article · December 2007

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Journal of Engineering & Technology, S. P. University, December 2007, Vol.20, pp
109-113

M.O.S.T. – The Most Advanced Work Measurement Technique

Vivek A. Deshpande

Asst. Professor in Mechanical Engineering, G. H. Patel College of Engineering & Technology,

Vallabh Vidyanagar, Anand, Gujarat – 388120

Vivek_deshpande@yahoo.com

Abstract:

Work measurement for an operation is an essential step to understand the intensity of work and is

the base for deployment of men/resources & to monitor & improve the effective utilization of the

resources. This paper is concerned with the intention to provide awareness of a particular work

measurement technique called ‘Maynard Operation Sequence Technique’ (MOST). The

objective of any work measurement technique is to reduce the work content and thereby improve

the productivity of the process. Stop watch method, would generally take a lot of time for an

Industrial Engineer, who will be standing right behind the operator & observing the various

actions and noting down. This in turn has many hassles of irritation, willful delaying, and adding

non-value activities by the operator. The biggest problem is that the worker/union feels that the

whole estimate is unfair. MOST technique almost eliminated the uncomfortability for online

workers.

Keywords: MOST
Journal of Engineering & Technology, S. P. University, December 2007, Vol.20, pp
109-113

1. Introduction:

MOST is evolved by H.B. Maynard and Co. Inc., Pittsburgh, U.S. in 1970. It is based on MTM

and is simplified greatly so as to be understood with a little bit of training and applied more

easily for any job estimation. This new system was brought into practice in the U.S. in 1975.

MOST was designed to be much faster than other work measurement techniques, as is shown

below.

Total TMU’s produced per

Work Measurement Technique
analyst hour
MTM – 1 300
MTM – 2 1,000
MTM – 3 3,000
Mini MOST 4,000
Basic MOST 12,000
Maxi MOST 25,000

Table 1: TMU Analysis for different techniques

Time Measurement Units (TMU):

 1 TMU = 1/28 of a SECOND = 0.036 SEC = 0.0006 MIN. = 0.00001 HOUR

The advantages of M.O.S.T. over other work measurement techniques are:

1. Easy to learn and understand.

2. Can be applied directly from memory.

3. Covered only under 3 sequence models – General Move, Controlled Move & Tool Use.

4. Leads to Non-Value Added activities identification.

5. Time can be calculated in advance and rating factor is not required.

6. Reduced paperwork and staff for the application; hence economical.

Thus, MOST will help you to reduce cost and improve productivity.
Journal of Engineering & Technology, S. P. University, December 2007, Vol.20, pp
109-113

2. Concept of ‘MOST’ Work Measurement Technique:

M.O.S.T. is a system to measure work, therefore concentrates on the movement of objects. It has

been observed that the movements of objects follow certain consistent repeating patterns; such as

reach, grasp, move, position object etc. In general the objects can be moved in two ways, either

they are picked up and moved freely through space or they are moved while maintaining contact

with another surface.

For example, a transmission case can be picked up and carried from one end of a workbench to

another or it can be pushed across the top of the workbench. For each type of move, a different

sequence of events a separate M.O.S.T. sequence model is used.

Consequently, three M.O.S.T. sequences are needed for describing manual work and a fourth for

measuring the movements of objects with manual cranes.

 The General Move Sequence (for the movement of object freely through air)

 The Controlled Move Sequence (for the movement of object when it remains in contact

with the surface or is restricted in its movement)

 The Tool Use Sequence (for the usage of common hand tools)

3. MOST Systems Family:

a) Maxi MOST:

At the highest level, Maxi MOST is used to analyze operations that are likely to be performed

fewer that 150 times per week. An operation in this category ranges from less than 2 minutes to

more than several hours.

Journal of Engineering & Technology, S. P. University, December 2007, Vol.20, pp
109-113

b) Basic MOST:

At the intermediate level, operations that are likely to be performed more than 150 but less than

1500 times per week should be analyzed with Basic MOST. An operation in this category ranges

from a few seconds to 10 minutes.

c) Mini MOST:

At the lowest level, Mini MOST provides the most detailed analysis. Operations that are likely to

be performed more than 1500 times per week should be analyzed with Mini MOST. An

operation in this category may have cycle time 10 seconds or less.

4. Basic Sequence Models:

Activity Sequence Model Parameter

A – action distance
B – body motion
`General Move ABG ABP A
G – gain control
P – placement
M – move controlled
Controlled Move ABG MXI A X – process time
I – alignment
F/L – fasten/loosen
C – cut
S – surface treat
Tool Use ABG ABP * ABP A
M – measure
R – record
T – think
Table 2: Sequence Models
Journal of Engineering & Technology, S. P. University, December 2007, Vol.20, pp
109-113

Table3: General Move

Table 4: Controlled Move

Journal of Engineering & Technology, S. P. University, December 2007, Vol.20, pp
109-113

Table 5: Tool Use for F or L

Table 6: Tool Use for C/S/M/R/T

 Journal of Engineering & Technology, S. P. University, December 2007, Vol.20, pp
109-113

5. MOST Procedure:

1. Watch job/task
2. Determine sequence(s) to use
3. Determine index values
4. Add index values to determine TMU
5. Multiply TMU by 10
6. Convert TMU to seconds, minutes, hours

6. Examples:
1) General Move:
Move 8 steps, take a bottle of water from ground, move further 4 steps, keep it on the
table and return back.

A16 B6 G1 A6 B0 P1 A24
= 16 + 6 + 1 + 6 + 0 + 1 + 24 = 54 * 10 = 540 TMUs
= 540 * 0.036 = 19.44 Second

2) Controlled Move:
Put a lever at milling machine, Process time 2.5 seconds

A6 B0 G1 M1 X6 I0
= 6 + 0 + 1 + 1 + 6 + 0 = 14 * 10 = 140 TMUs
= 140 * 0.036 = 5.04 Second

3) Tool Use:
Fasten a bolt with 3 wrist strokes using spanner from worktable and lay aside.

A1 B0 G1 A1 B0 P3 F10 A1 B0 P1 A0
= 1 + 0 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 3 + 10 + 1 + 0 + 1 + 0 = 18 * 10 = 180 TMUs
= 180 * 0.036 = 6.48 Second

7. References:
1. Kjell B. Zandin, “MOST Work Measurement Systems”, 3rd Edition.

2. International Labor Office (ILO), Geneva, “Introduction to work study”, 4th revised

edition, Universal Publishing Corporation, Mumbai, 1997.

3. Martand Telsang, “Industrial Engineering and Production Management”, 2nd revised

edition, Delhi, S. Chand & Company Ltd., 2002.

4. A. P. Verma, “Industrial Engineering”, 3rd revised edition, Delhi, S. K. Kataria & Sons,

2004.

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