Chapter – 10
Work study and method study
By Prof. Meena Mashru
Meaning of Work Study:
• Work study is the investigation, by means of a consistent system of
the work done in an organization in order to attain the best utilisation
of resources i.e. Materials, Machines, Men and Money. All the
technologies and management systems are related with productivity.
Work study is one of the basic techniques of improving
productivity. In order to resolve this aspect, work study
aims:
(i) To analyse the work in order to achieve work simplification and thereby improving
productivity of the system.
(ii) To have optimum utilization of resources
(iii) To evaluate the work content through work measurement.
(iv) To set time standards for various jobs.
Definition and Concept of Work Study:
Generally work study is used to describe a complete set of techniques with
the help of which work can be simplified, standardized and measured.
When it is possible to simplify the existing work or new methods are
designed and introduced such that the task/activity becomes simpler
than following advantages are possible:
(i) More production with less effort so goods/products are available at
cheaper rates.
(ii) Better equipment utilization shall lead to marked increase in the total
production without addition of new resources, thus productivity may
improve.
These advantages are possible through the willing cooperation of the people
engaged in production work. In view of these far reaching benefits, work
study has become an important tool of management.
• Work Study is encompassed by two
techniques -method study and work
measurement (time study):
• Method study is the systematic recording
and critical examination of existing and
proposed ways of doing work, as a means
of developing and applying easier and
methods and reducing costs.
• Work measurement (or Time study) is the
application of techniques designed to
establish the time for a qualified worker to
carry out a specified job at a defined level
of performance.
In industries work study is considered as a tool of improving
productivity by way of:
• (i) Resource utilization to a satisfactory level.
• (ii) Capital investment to introduce latest technology.
• (iii) Better management of the system.
Importance of Work Study
Work study is a means of enhancing the production efficiency (productivity) of the firm by
elimination of waste and unnecessary operations.
It is a technique to identify non-value adding operations by investigation of all the factors
affecting the job.
It is the only accurate and systematic procedure oriented technique to establish time
standards.
It is going to contribute to the profit as the savings will start immediately and continue
throughout the life of the product.
Objectives of Method Study:
Some important objectives of method study are:
(1) Better design of plant equipment and buildings.
(2) Less fatigue or workers by avoiding unnecessary movements of manpower.
(3) Better working conditions and environment for workers/employees.
(4) To have more effective utilisation of materials, machines and manpower and
money.
(5) Better Product quality.
(6) Efficient and fast material handling equipment.
(7) Leads to standardisation, rationalisation, simplification and specialisation.
(8) Efficient planning of the section.
(9) Streamlined working procedures.
Method Study Procedure
The following are the procedures and steps in Method Study.
1. Select the work worth studying and define the objectives to be achieved. An objective may be to reduce the manufacturing cost or to
reduce bottleneck or to reduce fatigue incurred by the workers in order to increasing their efficiency.
2. Record all the relevant information pertaining to the existing method in details and in the form of a chart to obtain a more clear picture
about the same. Recording can be done with the help of the following aids:
•Process Charts,
•Diagrams,
•Motion and Film Analysis, and
•Models.
3. Examine the recorded events critically and in sequence. It involves answer to a number of questions. An activity can be eliminated,
simplified or combined with another. The likely questions to be asked are:
•Purpose – What is done?
•Person – Who does it?
•Place – Where it is done?
•Means – How is it done?
•Sequence – When is it done?
4. Develop the best method as resulted form critical examination and record it. The developed method should be practical, safe effective
and economical.
5. Installation of the (best) developed method or the improved method. It involves planning, arranging and implementing. During planning
and arranging, necessary arrangements of resources, equipments, tools and instruction to workers overtime etc. are made. The actual installation
involves the introduction of developed method as standard practice.
6. Maintain the new method. We should ensure the proper functioning of the installed method by periodic checks and verifications. If there are
any deviations, the reasons for deviation should be explored and corrected. Views of the workers, supervisors and other person related with the
authorize method can be of immense help in exploring further improvements.
