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By
RAJ KUMAR * GAGANDEEP **
ABSTRACT
In this competitive world, productivity is a most crucial factor. Every organization must maintain an enough productivity to
satisfy the market's demand, to sustain in this world of competition. Productivity of an assembly line mainly depends on the
standard time required to complete the assigned task. Therefore, the work measurement techniques have great
importance in enhancing the productivity of the assembly line. This study aims to improve the productivity of an automotive
assembly line where in the productivity of existing assembly process is insufficient to fulfil the required demand. In this study, a
new combination of a work measurement technique Modular Arrangement of Predetermined Time Standards (MODAPTS)
and elimination of Non-Value-Added (NVA) activities, is used to enhance the productivity of assembly line. Firstly, the NVA
activities are eliminated to smooth the workflow. Further, MODAPTS has been used to estimate the appropriate standard
time required to complete the assembly tasks. Modular Arrangement of Predetermined Time Standards revealed the
excessive movements of operators, and helps to minimize the fatigue of the operators working on the assembly line. The
elimination of NVA activities followed by implementation of MODAPTS, has been used as an effective approach that
enhances the productivity of assembly line by 25.85%. Further, the significance of the applied approach is validated by
conducting a statistical test.
Keywords: Modular Arrangement of Predetermined Time Standards (MODAPTS), Time Study, Productivity, Standard Time,
Non-Value-Added Activities.
activities, the execution of the work-study techniques helps redesigning the layout of assembly line, redistributing tasks
any industry to enhance the productivity, quality and and balancing the assembly line, which enhances the
reduce production cost and time (Azizi, 2019). This productivity (Mathur et al., 2012). The academic
improves the levels of customer satisfaction and, results in researchers and practitioners are using various PMTS
huge profits (Patel et al., 2017). The work study method is techniques to get appropriate standard time required to
widely used in manufacturing industries to improve complete a specific task. The appropriate standard time
productivity (Kumar et al., 2020). The work study method is helps to enhance the productivity of an assembly line and
categorized in two parts: Method study and Work reduce the production time. This leads to better profitability
measurement (Kanawaty, 1992). and sustainability of an organization in this era of
Method study is a systematic approach for studying the competition. The PMTS techniques are Methods Time
method of performing a task, including workflow and Measurement (MTM), MOST (Maynard Operation
human motions, to improve the productivity. Basically, Sequence Technique) and Modular Arrangement of
method study is focused to develop a best way for Predetermined Time Standards (MODAPTS), are widely
performing a task with less time and effort (Groover, 2006). implemented to estimate the standard time required to
Work measurement is a process of establishing the time complete any task (Razmi & Shakhs-Niyaee, 2008). The
required to perform the assigned task by a qualified and implementation of PMTS can be valuable approach to
well-trained operator, with normal pace and defined improve existing process, balance assembly lines and
performance in standard conditions (Bondhare et al., estimate the standard time (Cakmakci & Karasu, 2007).
2016). Numerous work measurement techniques have From the fast few decades, the implementation of PMTS
been developed to measure the work and, establish the techniques in various industries, is broadly adopted by the
time required to perform a task. Specifically, work several developing nations (Laring et al., 2002).
measurement techniques include time study, work MODAPTS is one of the most popular PMTS techniques,
sampling, synthesis method analytical estimating and which is widely used to evaluate the standard times in
Predetermined Motion Time system (PMTS), and these are which an operator should complete the assign task (León-
basic tools for improving performance of any process. Duarte et al., 2019). In MODAPTS, the standard time
These techniques are introduced in a systematic way for required to complete a task, can be predicted before to
maximizing the utilization of available resources in order to the actual execution of task and motion of the operators is
enhance productivity and performance of the system (Jain rationalized accordingly. MODAPTS classifies the movement
et al., 2016). Additionally, the non-value-added activities of operators into twenty-one types, and a constant value is
which does not add any value in the working system, are estimated as the standard time required to complete
required to be eliminated to improve the productivity of the certain task (Hoffmann & Hui, 2010). In a study, MODAPTS
system. Work measurement techniques and elimination of has been implemented in a compiling yarn rolls process in
non-value-added activities can be combined to achieve the textiles industry to eliminate the unproductive motions
the excellent performance and productivity (Karim et al., of the operators, reducing 75.87% of the production time
2016). Non-value-added activities consists of all wastages (Patel et al., 2017). The removal of non-value-added
which require an extra effort and time but do not add in activities to enhance the performance and productivity of
value to the working system (Aughney & O'Donnell, 2015). assembly lines, is widely accepted by the manufacturing
Accordingly, it becomes necessity to eliminate the non- organizations (Jin et al., 2008). According to Jin et al.
value-added activities to improve the performance and (2008), researchers, the MODAPTS is found to be valuable
productivity of a system. approach to estimate appropriate time required to
The work measurement techniques are extensively used for perform the assigned task and to evaluate the bottlenecks.
estimating the time required to perform the assigned task, Further, elimination of non-value-added activities and
modification of existing methods, helps to remove assigned task. Unlike the MTM and MOST techniques,
bottlenecks. MODAPTS uses a MOD as basic unit of time measurement,
PMTS is a procedure which is used to analyze the manual wherein one MOD is equal to 0.129 seconds. MODAPTS is
activities in terms of micro motions required to perform most popular PMTS technique, widely used in the
those activities, without the use of a stopwatch. This can be manufacturing, healthcare, service and garment
implemented on assembly operations and non-cyclic industries. While implementing MODAPTS there is no need
working environments, in less time with more accuracy. of stopwatch. MODAPTS analyzing the body motion
PMTS methods such as MTM, MOST and MODAPTS are required to complete the assigned work. MODAPTS is a
widely used to enhance the productivity and, balance most accurate and quick technique to determine the
workflow of production lines. MTM is categorized as MTM-1, standard time. MODAPTS is easy to implement and it also
MTM-2 and MTM-3. MTM-1 has been introduced in 1940s, reduce the possibility of errors. In present days, the product-
to establish the standard time required to complete a task based industries have to employ various modifications in
prior to the task being processed (Zandin, 2001). Further, the products by changing their shapes, manufacturing
MTM-2 has been introduced in 1965, to estimate the processes and parts (Wu et al., 2016). MODAPTS provides a
standard time for tasks having small cycle time and provision to establish the standard time required to perform
repetition and, MTM-3 has been established in 1970, to a task prior to the execution of that task. The sum of
estimate standard time of tasks where the working standard times for each task, results cycle time of the
distances and approaches are varying in continuous assembly process executed to get final product. Therefore,
manner. The major drawback associated with the use of the product designers and industrial engineers can
MTM is that it includes analysis of huge amount of data, estimate the appropriate cycle time for a product before
huge paperwork and, requires much time for execution. In establishing the final product and assembly line.
1967, a new PMTS technique known as MOST has been Accordingly, changes can be made in the assembly
introduced, to overcome the drawbacks of MTM. MOST process of actual product and layout of assembly line to
consumes less time and easy to execute with more improve the productivity of the assembly line. MODAPTS
accuracy as compared to MTM (Zandin, 2001). For can also be implemented on the existing assembly
implementation of MOST, an operation is broken into operations to improve their productivity wherein the
several sub-operations and, assigning numerical values in production of existing assembly lines has been unable to
terms of time, to every sub-operation for estimating the meet the required demand. Therefore, the working
standard time. These numerical values are known as Time methods, machines can be modified to finish the task in
Measurement Units (TMUs). One TMU is equal to .036 the estimated standard time. This helps the product
seconds. MOST is also categorized as basic MOST, maxi designers and industrial engineers to make necessary
MOST, mini MOST and admin MOST. However, MOST requires changes in the assembly line for reducing and re-
less time for implementation than MTM, but still required a estimating standard time for each task, without changing
lot of time and a huge paperwork. MOST and MTM are the whole assembly process.
complicated methods which consumes a lot of time. Basically, MODAPTS is related to the movement of body
Further, MODAPTS has been introduced in 1966. Like Basic- parts including hands, arms, and shoulders and load on the
MOST, implementation of MODAPTS includes a coding body parts. In addition, the integer numbers are provided
technique that consists of at least one alphabetic letter to represent the distance covered by the body parts while
and at least one integer number, where the sum of all performing the assigned task. Every task is represented with
integer numbers in a single code represents MODs. MODs two-part codes. First part is an alphabetic component
can be simply converted into seconds or minutes to which represent the type task and second part is an integer
estimate the standard time required to complete an number which represent the time to complete the
utilization of resources respectively. This improves the sub-operations to examine the micro motion of operators.
productivity and efficiency of the assembly line. Seven operators are working on the assembly line for
1. Methodology performing seven operations. The operation breakdown of
the workstation is shown in the Table 2. Another six
The methodology followed to perform the present study,
operations performed on the corresponding six workstations,
has four phases as shown in Figure 2. The initial phase
are broken in similar manner. Further, the time study is
includes the time study of existing assembly line to estimate
carried out for estimating the observed time taken by the
the standard time, efficiency and productivity. Further, the
operators to perform the assigned tasks. The stopwatch is
second phase includes elimination of non-value-added
used to measure the observed time. As per the norms of
activities and balance of workflow through the assembly
automotive industry and visual observation, the
line. Accordingly, a new assembly process has been
performance rating is considered. The performance rating
proposed. In the third phase, MODAPTS is implemented on
is multiplied with observed time to get normal time. Further,
the proposed assembly process to estimate the
the standard time has been obtained by adding the
appropriate standard time for performing the assigned
allowances in the normal time. Herein, the allowances are
task. The fourth phase includes a statistical testing which is
taken as 10% of normal time which includes 6% fixed
carried out to test the significance of implemented
allowance and 4% of variable allowances. Then, the total
MODAPTS technique.
allowances i.e., 10% of normal time are added to normal
1.1 Time Study of Existing Assembly Process
time to get standard time. Table 3 represents the standard
The operations of the assembly line are broken into various
time for each workstation, in which the operator is
performing the assigned task in standard time.
Sub Standard
Sr.No Operation Operation Sub Operation Details Time
No. (Seconds)
Total 25.65
S. No Work Station Sub Sub Operation Code MODs Normal Time Allowance Standard Time
Operation (seconds) (seconds)
No.
1 O-Ring 1.1 A body case is picked by M5G2 M3G3 M3P2 18 2.322 1.1 2.41
Assembly the operator and insert
and O-Ring in the body case
Greasing 1.2 Pick a spring and insert in M3G3 M3P5 14 1.806 1.1 1.99
Dispensing the hole provided in the
body case
1.3 Place the body case on a M3P5 8 1.032 1.1 1.14
fixture.
1.4 Pick three springs and insert 3 (M3G3 M3P5) 42 5.418 1.1 5.96
in the body case for
accommodating the
magnets in three holes
1.5 Apply grease in the inner M5G3 M3C4 M5 20 2.58 1.1 2.84
surface of body case using
a greasing dispenser
1.6 Pick one steel ball and (M3G3 M3P5) 14 1.806 1.1 1.99
place over the spring to
accommodate the magnets
in provided hole
1.7 Pick body case sub-assembly M3G3 M3P2 11 1.419 1.1 1.56
and place in the conveyor bin
1.8 Press the nagara switch for M3G1X4 8 1.032 1.1 1.14
moving the conveyor
Total 19.03
Table 5. Standard Time Estimated by MODAPTS Analysis for First Work Station of Proposed Assembly Process
represented in Table 5, the standard time required to 1.4 Statistical Testing to Check the Significance of the
complete the first operation, is calculated as 19.014 Implemented Technique
seconds. The statistical test has been conducted using Microsoft Excel
In similar manner, MODAPTS is implemented on each for the significance of the implemented technique, on
operation of the assembly process to get total standard standard time of each operation. Table 7 describes a
time. The total standard time required to complete the statistical paired sample t-test conducted with the Microsoft
assembly process is determined as 99.24 seconds. The Excel. The paired sample t-test is conducted by considering
final product is assembled in the 99.24 seconds. This is the the 5% of significance level or 95% of confidence level. This
appropriate value of standard time in which a healthy test results 0.074933% of p-value that is less than 5%. Thus, it
operator should complete the entire assembly process. can be stated with 95% of confidence that implemented
The standard time estimated by MODAPTS for each technique is an effective technique to reduce the standard
workstation is shown in the Table 6. time of every operation of assembly line. This improves the
productivity of the assembly process.
S. No Work Station Standard time with
MODAPTS (Seconds) 2. Results and Discussion
1 O-Ring greasing and assembly 19.0146 The comparison of standard time of the existing assembly
2 Magnets and dowl spring insertion 13.5600
process is estimated by time study and standard time of
3 Body case and cover assembly 18.1280
4 Magnets insertion in the Key 16.1100 the proposed assembly process by MODAPTS, is detailed in
5 Sticker pasting 8.94000
the Table 8. MODAPTS is found to be effective technique to
6 Key insertion and code marking 13.9338
7 Final inspection 9.55000 reduce the standard time for each operation as
compared to the standard time of the existing assembly
Table 6. Standard Time Estimated by MODAPTS Analysis for all process estimated by time study. The maximum standard
Seven Workstation of Proposed Assembly Process
time of the proposed assembly process is estimated as
1 O-Ring greasing and assembly 25.65 19.0300 Figure 4. Comparison of Standard Times of Existing and
2 Magnets and dowl spring insertion 17.52 13.5600 Proposed Assembly Process
3 Body case and cover assembly 23.35 18.1280
4 Magnets insertion in the Key 19.23 16.1100 proposed line can have sufficient production to meet
5 Sticker pasting 11.28 8.94000 customer demand within available time. The productivity
6 Key insertion and code marking 18.69 13.9338
7 Final inspection 10.66 9.55000
of the assembly process is enhanced by 25.85%. The
Total time 126.38 99.2518 calculation of enhancement in productivity is followed as:
(3)
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