TOPIC 2:

METHOD STUDY
(PART III)
BASIC PROCEDURE/APPROACH FOR METHOD STUDY
i. Select

ii. Record
iii. Examine

iv. Develop

v. Evaluate

vi. Define
vii. Install
viii. Maintain
3. Examine (Critical Analysis)
◼ Critical analysis need to be done to identify opportunities for
improvement.

◼ Two techniques may be used:

i. Critical questioning
ii. Identifying ineffective activity
i. Critical Questioning
◼ Each activity is subjected to a series of systematic and progressive
questioning.
◼ Purpose : To identify weaknesses in the existing or proposed method
and improve it.
◼ Types of questions: Primary & secondary.
Purpose of questioning:
◼ Primary :
To identify weaknesses in the existing
or proposed method.

◼ Secondary :
To identify other possible place,
sequence, person and/or method that
is better than the existing or proposed
method.
 Primary Questions
PURPOSE What actually is done? ELIMINATE
unnecessary
Why is this activity activity.
necessary?

PLACE Where is it done? COMBINE

Why is it done here? whenever possible
or
SEQUENCE When is it done? REARRANGE
the process
Why is it done at that sequence
time? for
more
MAN Who is doing it? effective
Why is it done by this results.
man?

METHOD How is it done? SIMPLIFY

Why is done this way? the operation
 PURPOSE What is done?
Secondary Why is it done?
Questions What else can be done?
What should be done?

◼ At this stage, PLACE Where is it done?

answers to the Why is it done here?
Where else can it be done?
primary questions is Where should it be done?
subjected to further SEQUENCE When is it done?
questioning. Why is done then?
When else can it be done?
When should it be done?

◼ To identify if there PERSON Who does it?

Why does this person does it?
are better Who else can do this?
alternatives. Who should do this?

METHOD How is it done?

Why is done this way?
How else can it be done?
How should it be done?
3. Examine (Critical Analysis)
◼ Critical analysis need to be done to identify opportunities for
improvement.

◼ Two techniques may be used:

i. Critical questioning
ii. Identifying ineffective activity
ii. Identify ineffective activity

◼ Ineffective activities are

opportunities for improvement.

◼ Recognizing these activities is

the first step to improving them.
Types of ineffective activity
1. Blind movement Movement to a Possible causes :
location that Bad workplace layout.
cannot be seen by Unsuitable container.
the worker.
Inverted material or
equipment.
Obstacle in the workplace.
Characteristics of material.

2. Hold An activity which Possible causes :

is temporarily Lack of holding devices.
stopped so that Hands activities not
one or more balanced.
object can be
positioned. Badly designed holding
device.
Lack of training.
3. Awkward movement Movement that Possible causes :
requires awkward Object is beyond the normal
body position that reach.
requires excessive Inverted object or tool.
energy to
maintain. Object or tool difficult to
reach.
Obstacle.
Bad layout.

4. Change of control An object is Possible causes :

transferred from Bad workplace or
one control facility equipment layout.
to another. (Eg. Lack of self locating
From left hand to facilities.
right hand)
Lack of training.
5. Difficult movement Movement that Possible causes :
requires manual Badly designed equipment.
agility. Lack of suitable
mechanized support.
Physical shape & condition
of object.
Characteristics of
operation.

6. Excessive energy Activities that Possible causes :

required require more than Inadequate use machinery.
normal amount of Unbalanced heavy load.
energy.
Obstacle preventing worker
to be closer to the task.
7. Wait Worker waiting for Possible causes :
equipment, Hand activity not balance.
material, tool, Waiting for machine to
hand or other complete the process.
parts of the body
to continue Waiting for worker or next
activity. operation.
Lack of standard or training.
Planning for the next activity.

8. Dangerous motion. Motion by the Possible causes :

worker which can The lack or unavailability of
harm him or his safety guards.
friends in the area. Worker can’t see what he is
doing.
Shape or condition of the
object.
Object’s motion inertia
difficult to control.
9. Movement dictated Movement that is Possible causes :
by the eyes. determined by the Bad workplace layout.
eyes and motion Lack of self locating
cannot be made facilities.
until eyes
determine the Lack of standard or
destination. training.

10. Extended motion. Any motion that Possible causes :

can be shortened Bad workplace layout.
without being Lack of use of vertical
awkward. space.
Obstacle in workers path.
Unsuitable location of
object.
Separated work place.
11. Jerk and wrench Difficult pulling Possible causes :
action on an Lack of proper tool.
object by a Load not balance.
worker.
Non uniform fit and
tolerance.
Foreign material such as
dust and grease.
Physical shape and
condition of object.
12. Adjustment of A series of small Possible causes :
position. repetitive Lack of self locating
movements devices.
around the Assembly work without
required location guiding device.
before material is
finally placed in Worker cannot see
that location. properly because of
obstruction or bad lighting.
13. Clumsy motion. Worker fails to Possible causes :
take hold of an Lack of pre positioning
object at the first facilities.
attempt, object fell Object is dirty or greasy.
and need to
picked up. Characteristics of material.
Unsuitable gloves.
Unsuitable type of
container or feed system.
Small work space.

14. Lost control An object that Possible causes :

needs to be used Incorrect sequence of
again but is activity.
released before Lack of multi devices.
being almost
immediately taken Unable to hold tool or
again. object when required.
15. Obstructed motion. Worker has to Possible causes :
divert from a Bad workplace layout.
straight line Bad design of safety
motion because of guard.
obstruction.
Design of device does not
have allowance to place
object.

16. Unnecessary Worker using Possible causes :

motion. more motion than Lack of powered tools.
really required for Bad work place layout.
that operation.
Lack of self locating
devices.
Inverted material or
equipment.
Thank you