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Procedia Manufacturing 3 (2015) 6475 – 6482

6th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE 2015) and the
Affiliated Conferences, AHFE 2015

Path Process Chart - A technique for conducting time and motion

study
Poonam Magu*, Kumud Khanna, Premavathy Seetharaman
Institute of Home Economics( University of Delhi),F – 4, Hauz Khas Enclave, New Delhi 110016,India

Abstract

There are many techniques for conducting time and motion study. This paper reports the development of a new technique called
Path Process chart which studies both the path taken by the worker i.e. the workplaces used and their interrelationship, as well as
the process of work. Initially, a survey was conducted and information regarding meal preparation, details of kitchen etc. was
collected from 510 non employed women homemakers. A technique was developed which was then used to study the activity of
meal preparation by 50 non employed homemakers in their kitchens. The results indicated that the new technique was a simple
and effective method for conducting time and motion study.

©
© 2015
2015 The
TheAuthors.
Authors.Published
Publishedby
byElsevier
ElsevierB.V.
B.V.This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of AHFE Conference.
Peer-review under responsibility of AHFE Conference
Keywords: : Time and Motion study; Path Process Chart; Ergonomics

1. Introduction

The importance of conducting time and motion study is well established. The techniques used by Frank and
Lillian Gilbreth were no doubt very reliable and gave relevant information which has undoubtedly changed the way
work is performed today. However, there is always a scope for developing new techniques to meet the challenges of
the modern world. The workplaces have become more complex because of the intrusion of wide variety of gadgets
and machinery. But the spaces have become limited. This increases the challenge for the ergonomist who wants to

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +91 98109 2766.

E-mail address: pmagu_65@yahoo.com

2351-9789 © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of AHFE Conference
doi:10.1016/j.promfg.2015.07.929
6476 Poonam Magu et al. / Procedia Manufacturing 3 (2015) 6475 – 6482

design ergonomically sound workplaces. In order to do so, it is important to understand the way work is performed
in traditional workplaces and pattern of use of different workplaces for a particular task. This understanding can be
incorporated in designing new workplaces so that the worker can perform work with the same ease. There are many
techniques which can be used to attain this goal but most of them study either the process of work or the workplaces.
The major research objective of this paper is to present a technique for conducting time and motion study which

(i) is a simple paper and pen technique that does not require any elaborate equipment like video etc.
(ii) makes it possible to study both the process of work (as done by Process Chart) and the way the workplaces are
used (as done by Pathway chart) at the same time,
(iii) makes it possible to study simultaneously the work performed by two workers at the same or different
workplaces in a work area.
(iv) specifically studies work in the domestic kitchen but can also be used for other types of work.

2. Background

The focus of most of the time and motion techniques has been to study industrial work and in the latter years
other occupational work, for e.g. people working on computers, in offices etc. Some studies have been conducted on
household work, but in India, the number of such studies is small. However, this is an important area, as it concerns
each one of us irrespective of the occupations that we follow. It is also important to understand that domestic work is
not the same as working in the office or in an industry. The former involves multitude of diverse activities each
requiring a different skill set. The workplaces are also not so well defined in a home. A homemaker can use her
dining table not only for serving food but also for sitting and cutting vegetables And although, there are clear cut,
well defined roles in the home as well, the boundaries are quite fluid. So, it might be the mother’s job to prepare the
dinner but a family member can, without any previous notice, walk in to give a hand. It is because of these
differences between household work and work outside the home that it was felt important to design a technique
which would cater specifically to studying work in the home. It should be possible, however, to use such a technique
for studying other types of work as well.

3. Method

The study was conducted in three phases.

3.1. Phase I - Exploratory Phase

During this phase, data was collected from 510 homemakers living in flats/apartments built by Delhi
Development Authority (DDA) for families belonging to middle income group. The homemakers were interviewed
and data was collected regarding their personal and family background, activities related to meal preparation and
general information about the physical facilities present in the kitchen. The main aim was to get a homogenous
sample for conducting an in-depth study in Phase III after the development of technique in Phase II.

3.2. Phase II - Development of technique for conducting time and motion study

3.2.1. Development of a new technique

A technique was developed at the Institute of Home Economics which was later named the Path Process Chart
since it studied both the path taken by the worker while performing the task and also gave details of the process of
work.

3.2.2. Field testing of the technique

The Path Process chart was tested in 10 domestic kitchens of flats belonging to families of middle income group.
The necessary changes were made and a final format was developed to meet the requirements of the study.
 Poonam Magu et al. / Procedia Manufacturing 3 (2015) 6475 – 6482 6477

3.2.3. Assessment of the Path Process Chart

The technique of Path Process Chart was tested in the laboratory of the Department of Resource Management of
the Institute of Home Economics. A total of five menu items were made by the worker and the recordings were done
simultaneously on the Pathway chart and the Path process Chart. The analysis of the result revealed that the Path
Process Chart gave the same information as the Pathway chart and also gave it more readily and easily. It also
generated additional information about the process of work.

3.2.4. Finalization of the technique

The Path Process chart was also shown and discussed with eight experts from Home Economics institutions and
industry. Since the response was favorable, as seven marked it as good and one as fair, it was decided to use the Path
Process Chart for conducting time and motion study of meal preparation activities in the kitchen of 50 families
belonging to middle income group.

3.2.5. The Technique - Path Process Chart

It consists of a chart on which the activity is recorded by the investigator. Later the data can be analyzed by using
especially designed analysis sheets. The first sheet has questions regarding the worker - her name, age etc. and some
questions about the activity such as the number of items prepared, number of people served etc. This sheet also
serves as a summary sheet. Some information related to work such as the equipments used during work etc. can be
summarized here.
The Investigator has to visit the work area where she intends to conduct the time and motion study sometime
before actually conducting the study. The various dimensions need to be taken along with noting the placement of
major equipments. A plan is then prepared to scale (1:100). The major workplaces where the worker works at the
time of conducting the time and motion study should be marked as the work proceeds. This plan will be used for
calculating the total distance covered by the worker.
The details of the technique are as given below ;

3.2.6. Description of the technique

The format of the technique is shown in Fig. 1. It consists of 20 columns which represent the following -
Columns 1 - 13 Workplace address
Columns 14 - 17 Process
Columns 18 Time Duration
Column 19 Equipment
Column 20 Remark

3.2.6.1. Workplace Address

The workplace can be defined as the place where the worker actually performs the task. The address is given on
the basis of some major equipment present at the workplace or in its close proximity. Since in the present study the
work area being studied was the kitchen, hence the major equipments were range, sink, refrigerator etc. and the
workplace address were given in relation to them. Figure 2 shows the various workplaces in a kitchen. The
workplace outside the kitchen can be the eating area (EA).The refrigerator (RF) can be outside or inside the kitchen.
In addition, there could also be any other workplace (AO).

WORKPLACE ADDRESS PROCESS

Fig. 1: Few rows of Path Process Chart

6478 Poonam Magu et al. / Procedia Manufacturing 3 (2015) 6475 – 6482

Fig. 2: Layout Plan of kitchen showing different workplaces

3.2.6.2. Process
The process can be defined as the action performed at a particular workplace. The description of the various
symbols is as given below -
O - Operation - It is a sequence of activities taking place at a workplace during which the characteristics of the
material are changed, for e.g. cutting of wire, chopping of vegetables etc.
T - Transport - This represents the physical movements of the worker from one workplace to the other.
D - Delay - This represents an interruption in the carrying out of the work. The delay could be inherent in the
work itself which can be called inherent delay or ID, for e.g. waiting for water to boil while making tea etc. It could
also be intentional delay i.e. Int. D. This happens when the worker intentionally leaves the work to take a break or to
talk to someone. The third type of delay is the Unexpected Delay or UD. This happens when the delay is not
expected, for e.g. ringing of the door bell etc.
S - Storage - It refers to the retrieval or replacement of items, utensils, ingredients etc from or to an area where
they are placed more or less permanently, for e.g. taking out vegetables from refrigerator and later replacing them.

3.2.6.3. Time
The time when the activity starts is noted and the motions that take place within the next minute are noted next.
Subsequently, the motions for every one minute are noted till the activity comes to an end.

3.2.6.4. Equipment (EQPMT.)

An equipment can be defined as the tool that is used for carrying out the operation, for e.g. bottle opener etc.

3.2.6.5. Remarks
The activity is described in this column, for e.g. washes hands, opens the bottle etc.

3.2.7. Recording the activity of meal preparation

After completing the first sheet, the investigator moves on to the main sheet (a number of photocopies will be
required depending upon the duration and nature of activity). The time is noted as soon as the activity starts. The
movement of the worker is traced by means of a continuous line. The process is noted by either tick-marking or
encircling O, T, D or S as the case may be. In the EQPMT. column one can note the equipment used. The remark
column has to be filled with major points.
As an example, let us consider the activity of preparing a sandwich.
The worker enters the kitchen at 7.00 and goes to the sink. A line is made from the door (Do) to sink (S). The
time is noted in the Time column and transport (T) is marked in the Process column. The worker washes hands and
this is marked as an operation (O). She then goes to the refrigerator - transport (T) is marked. She removes the bread
 Poonam Magu et al. / Procedia Manufacturing 3 (2015) 6475 – 6482 6479

which has been stored there and hence S is marked. Likewise, the movements and process of work is recorded till
the activity comes to an end.
Sometimes, the worker without moving her position works at two different adjacent workplaces. In such a
situation, transport (T) is not marked. For e.g. when a worker standing at range (R) turns to work at the sink (S) then
it can be noted as shown in Fig. 4.
At times, a worker while standing at one workplace reaches out for an item stored at another workplace. In that
case, a broken arrow is made extending from original workplace to the point of reach. For e.g. a worker while
working at R reaches out at *R for a bottle of oil stored at *R, then it can be shown as in Fig.5.
Sometimes the worker is joined by another worker. In such a situation, the movement of the new worker can be
traced by using a pen of a different color or drawing a different type of line such as dotted or large dashes.

Fig.3 Recording activity of making sandwiches on Path Process Chart

Fig.4: Recording when no movement takes place but the worker starts working at an adjacent workplace.
6480 Poonam Magu et al. / Procedia Manufacturing 3 (2015) 6475 – 6482

Fig. 5: Recording movement of the worker performing work by reaching out to other workplaces.

3.2.8. Analysis
After the activity is recorded on the Path Process Chart, it is analyzed using special work sheets which are as
shown below.

x Trip Frequency Chart: In this chart, trip made between different workplaces are noted. The number of reaches
can also be calculated conveniently. (Appendix A). This chart gives information about the most frequently
visited workplace, the number of trips made to each workplace, the workplaces between which work is
performed by reaching out and the relationship between different workplaces as determined by the number of
trips made between them.
x Distance Chart (Appendix B): The distances between different workplaces can be calculated from the floor plan
of the work area. These distances are then multiplied with the total number of trips made between different
workplaces. The sum of these is the total distance travelled by the worker during the performance of the activity.
x Storage Chart: In this chart, the items stored at different workplaces are noted. (Appendix C. It depicts few rows
of the storage chart made on the basis of the findings of Phase III)The chart gives information regarding the
items stored at different workplaces which are retrieved at the time of performance of the activity and the
number of workplaces used in the work area for the purpose of storage
x Operation Chart: In this chart, the number of operations and the workplaces on which they are performed are
noted. (Appendix D. It shows few rows of the operation chart made on the basis of the findings of Phase III).
This chart indicates the use of each workplace and the number of operations performed there. This gives an idea
of the importance of each workplace.

3.3. Phase III Conducting Time and Motion study using Path Process chart

Once the technique had been field tested and standardized, it was used to study meal preparation activities in 50
kitchens of Phase I.

4. Results and discussions

The data generated by the Path Process Chart was analyzed using the analysis sheets. It was found that important
information regarding the use of workplaces and their interrelationship as also the way in which the work of meal
preparation is performed by the worker, could be obtained by the new technique

5. Conclusion

The present study was conducted in three phases - Phase I, in which information was collected from 510 non -
working homemakers, Phase II, in which a new technique called Path Process Chart was developed and Phase III,
wherein the technique was used to conduct an in-depth study of the meal preparation activity in 50 urban Indian
kitchens. The technique could generate important data regarding the way in which the different workplaces were
used and the way in which they were interrelated. The findings of the study will enable designers to design
ergonomically sound kitchens for the Indian homemaker.

Acknowledgement

We are greatly indebted to all the homemakers who participated in the study and also to the panel of experts.
 Poonam Magu et al. / Procedia Manufacturing 3 (2015) 6475 – 6482 6481

Appendix A. Trip Frequency Chart

Appendix B. Distance Chart (only few rows shown)

Similarly the distance between each workplace can be calculated. The sum of all will give the total distance
travelled by the worker. The number 3 in the reaches column implies that the worker while standing at the sink
reached out to perform an operation or access storage at *S

Appendix C. Storage Chart (only few rows)

NOTE: The numbers in boxes represent the number of respondents storing the items at that particular workplace. The total is the maximum
number of different types of utensils and ingredients stored at that workplace. Thus, 11 types of utensils are stored at the workplace *R.

Appendix D. OperationChart(Only few rows)

NOTE: The numbers in boxes represent the number of respondents performing the operation at that particular workplace. The total is the
maximum number of operations performed at that workplace.Thus, 14 preparation operations are performed at *R.
6482 Poonam Magu et al. / Procedia Manufacturing 3 (2015) 6475 – 6482

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