Course Code MEPE-32

Course Title Work Study & Ergonomics

Number of Credits 3.0
Prerequisites (Course code)
Course Type PE/OE

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. To understand the basic concepts of production and productivity and to study the
methods of productivity improvement.
2. To understand the main concepts of Work Study and apply them to know about
the practical aspects of Industrial World.
3. To inculcate the skills among the students for analysing and improving existing
methods of working on the shop floor of an organisation.
4. To impart thorough knowledge to the students with respect to allowances, rating,
determination of basic and standard time for various operations in an organisation.
5. To understand the basic concepts of Ergonomics and to apply them in real work
environment.

COURSE CONTENT:
UNIT- I
Productivity
Concept and definition, Difference between production and productivity, Reasons for
low productivity, factors influencing productivity, productivity measures, measurement
models, methods/techniques to improve productivity, work-study and productivity, Work
content. (5 hrs)
UNIT- II
Introduction to Work-Study
Importance, Human considerations in work-study Relationship of work-study man with
management, supervisor & workers, qualities of a work-study man. (8 hrs)
UNIT- III
Method-Study
Definition, objectives, step-by-step procedure, questioning techniques, charts and
diagrams for recording data. outline process charts, flow process charts, multiple activity
charts, two handed process chart, string diagram, travel chart, cycle graph, Chrono-
cycle graph, Therbligs, Micro motion study and film analysis, SIMO chart, Principles of
motion economy, development and installation of new methods.
(10 hrs)
UNIT- IV
Work–Measurement:
Definition, various techniques of work-measurement work-sampling, stop-watch time
study & its procedure, Job selection, Equipment and forms used for time study, rating,
methods of rating, allowances and their types, work sampling, normal time, standard
time, numerical problems, Predetermined Motion Time System and its types, Work
Factor System, Method Time Measurement and Basic Motion Time.
(10 hrs)
UNIT- V
Ergonomics
Introduction, history of development, objectives, man-machine system and its
components, design of Man Machine Systems, introduction to structure of the body-
features of the human body, stress and strain, metabolism, measure of physiological
functions- workload and energy consumption, biomechanics, types of movements of
body members, strength and endurance, speed of movements, Applied Anthropometry -
types, use, principles and applications, design of work place and seat design, visual
displays for static information, visual displays of dynamic information, auditory, tactual
and olfactory displays and controls, effect of vibration, noise, temperature and
illumination on performance. (12 hrs)

Course Outcomes:
At the end of the course, student will be able to
1. Understand the production and productivity concepts.
2. Understand the Work Study concepts and their applications.
3. Understand and apply the method study procedure tools and techniques.
4. Analyse the Predetermined Motion Time System, Work Factor System, Method
Time Measurement and Basic Motion Time.
5. Understand the prime concepts of Ergonomics and its significance in relation to
the design of work place and controls etc.

Reference Books:
1. Barnes Ralph M., Motion & Time study: Design and Measurement of Work, Wiley
Text Books, ed. 7th, 2001.
2. Marvin E, Mundel & David L, Motion & Time Study: Improving Productivity,
Pearson Education, 2000.
3. Benjamin E Niebel and Freivalds Andris, Methods Standards & Work Design,
McGraw Hill, 2013.
4. International Labour organization, Work-study, Oxford and IBH publishing
company Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 2001.
5. Sanders Mark S and McCormick Ernert J, Human Factors in Engineering and
Design, McGraw-Hill Inc., 1993.
6. Sharma S K and Sharma Savita, “Work Study and Ergonomics”, S K Kataria &
Sons., Delhi, 2014.

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