IE Practice with

Comprehensive Exam
Work Sampling
Module 7
Work Sampling
● Developed in England in the 1930s by Leonard Lippet
● It is a statistical technique for determining the proportion of time spent by
subjects in various defined categories of activity subjects in various defined
categories of activity
● Subjects can be workers or machines
● Random observations are used to record subject’s activities
● The only technique available for measuring and evaluating repetitive jobs
● It is used in activities such as:
○ Determination of machine utilization
○ Determination of allowances
○ Establishing standards and overall performance levels
○ To indicate areas of delay
○ In determining the distribution of duties among a group of workers
Work Sampling Formula

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑖𝑛 × 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 × 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑥

𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 = × (1 + 𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒)
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑖𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑
 Work Sampling Formula
Advantages Limitations

• It gives UNBIASED RESULTS • It is NOT ECONOMICAL FOR SHORT CYCLE JOBS

• Its study may be INTERRUPTED AT ANY TIME • It DOES NOT ALLOW A SMALL BREAKDOWN OF

WITHOUT AFFECTING THE RESULTS ACTIVITIES AND DELAYS

• It is ECONOMICAL and LESS TIME • WORKMEN may CHANGE THE NORMAL METHOD of

working when they see the observer.

CONSUMING than time study
• It normally DOES NOT RECORD THE WORKERS’
• It gives QUICK RESULTS
SPEED OF WORKING
Problem 1
An analyst has been asked to prepare an estimate of the proportion of time that a
turret lathe operator spends adjusting the machine, with 90% confidence level. Based
on previous experience, the analyst believes the proportion will be approximately
30%. If the analyst uses sample size of 400 observations, what is the maximum error
that will be associated with the estimate?

a. 4.49% c. 5.34%
b. 3.77% d. 5.90%
Problem 2
From the previous problem, what sample size would the analyst need in order to have
a maximum error be no more than +/- 5%
a. 230 observations c. 225 observations
b. 322 observations d. 228 observations
Problem 3
Sample observations of a claims processor made over a 160-hour work month reveal
that the worker produced a total of 384 completed claims forms. The performance
rating was 80%. The worker was idle 20% of the time (which must be subtracted from
the total time when computing the average observed time). The allowance factor is
8%. What is the normal time per unit?
a. 17.39 min c. 16.48 min
b. 17.28 min d. 15.27 min
Problem 4
Problem 5
Problem 6
Predetermined Motion Time
Systems (PMTS)
Module 8
Predetermined Time Standards (PMTS)
● is a work measurement technique whereby times established for basic human
motions (classified according to the nature of the motion and the conditions
under which it is made) are used to build up the time for a job at a defined level of
performance.
● A database of basic motion elements and their associated normal time values,
together with procedures for applying data to analyze manual task times and
establish standard times for the tasks.
● Basic motions include:
○ Reach
○ Grasp
○ Move
○ Release
● These involve the use of published data in standard elemental times.
Methods-Time Measurement (MTM)
● Is a commonly used system which was developed n the late 1940s by the Methods
Engineering Council.
● It analyzes any manual operation or method into basic motions required to
perform it. Each motion is assigned with a pre-determined time standard.
● MTM varies into different forms such as MTM – 1, MTM – 2, MTM – 3, and MOST

● Stated in terms of time measurement units or TMUs

○ One TMU equals 0.00001 hour
○ One TMU equals 0.00006 minutes
○ One TMU equals 0.036 second
○ There are 100,000 TMUs in an hour
Methods-Time Measurement (MTM)
Methods-Time Measurement (MTM)
● Is a commonly used system which was developed n the late 1940s by the Methods
Engineering Council.
● It analyzes any manual operation or method into basic motions required to
perform it. Each motion is assigned with a pre-determined time standard.
● MTM varies into different forms such as MTM – 1, MTM – 2, MTM – 3, and MOST

● Stated in terms of time measurement units or TMUs

○ One TMU equals 0.00001 hour
○ One TMU equals 0.00006 minutes
○ One TMU equals 0.036 second
○ There are 100,000 TMUs in an hour
MTM Systems
● Operates at the basic motion element level
● Most MTM – 1 basic motions involve hand and arm movements
● Also includes elements for eye, leg, foot, and body actions

● Other MTM Systems

○ MTM – 2 is a second level PMTS in which basic motion elements are combined into motion
aggregates
■ GET – combines Reach and Grasp
■ PUT – combines MOVE and Position
○ MTM – 3 is a third level of PMTS which has four motion categories
■ Handle
■ Transport
■ Step and foot motions
■ Bend and rise
Maynard Operation Sequence Technique
● Developed by H. B. Maynard

● It is a high-level PMTS based on MTM and at the same time units as MTM, TMU.
● Focused on work involving the movement of objects from one location to another in the
workplace

● Three activity sequence models:

○ General move – object moved freely in space
○ Controlled move - object remains in contact with a surface
○ Tool use – use of hand tools (hammer, screwdriver, etc.)
 Predetermined Time Standards (PMTS)
Advantages Limitations

• Limited to hand, eye, and body motions

• Efficient
• Machine times may not be established
• REDUCED REQUIRED TIME to conduct study
• Extra allowances are not taken to account
• APPLICABLE to DIVERSE INDUSTRIES
• Not feasible for non-repetitive work
• Enables to DEVELOP STANDARDS at PLANNING
• Variation in distance measurements
STAGE
• Hard to classify some motions
• Not sample size sensitive
• May not match actual times
• Detailed time and method study
Problem 1
Problem 2
Learning Curve
Module 9
Learning Curve
● Based on the premise that
people and organizations
become better at their tasks as
the tasks are repeated
● Time to produce a unit
decreases as more units are
produced
● Learning curves typically follow
a negative exponential
distribution
● The rate of improvement
increases over time
Learning Curve
T x Ln = Time required for the nth
unit

Where:

T = unit cost or unit time of the

first unit
L = learning curve rate
N = number of times T is doubled
Learning Curve
Given:
First unit takes 10 labor hours
70% learning curve is present
Determine how many hours is required to produce the 4th unit
Solution: Fourth unit will require doubling twice - 1 to 2 to 4
Hours required for unit 4 = 10 x 0.7(2) = 4.9 hours

Arithmetic Approach
- Simplest Approach
- Labor cost declines at a constant rate,
the learning rate, as production doubles
Learning Curve
Logarithmic Approach
𝑌𝑛 = 𝐴1 (𝑋 𝑏 )
Where: Yn = time for the nth unit
A1 = hours to produce the first unit
b = (log of the learning rate)/(log 2)
= slope of the learning curve
Problem 1

Nite-Site, Inc., manufactures image intensification devices used in products such as night-
vision goggles and aviator's night-vision imaging systems. The primary customer for these
products is the U.S. military. The military requires that learning curves be employed in the
bid process for awarding military contracts. The company is planning to make a bid for 120
image intensifiers to be used in a military vehicle. The company estimates the first unit will
require 80 hours of direct labor to produce. The industry learning curve for this particular
type of product is 92%. Determine how many hours will be required to produce the 60th
and 120th units.