Time Study

A Method to calculate Standard Time

Engr. Motahar Hosen

B.Sc. in IPE(SUST), MBA(EWU),
MEcon in Environmental Economics(DU)

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Time Study
A work measurement technique

 For recording the times of a worker to complete a

cycle of an operation
 Rates the worker for his performance
 Analyze the data to determine the time necessary
for carrying out a job at a defined level of
performance.

 The Time we get from time study is called Cycle

Time
 Average of cycle time is Observed Time
 OBJECTIVE OF TIME STUDY
• Determine time standard for every operation.
• Determining schedules and planning work.
• Determining standard costs and as an aid in preparing
budgets.
• Estimating the cost of a product before manufacturing
it.
• Determining machine effectiveness, the number of
M/C which one person can operate.
• Determining time standards to be used as a basis for
the payment of a wage incentive to direct labor and
indirect labor.
• Determining time standards to be used as a basis for
labor cost control.
Time study equipment

• A stop-watch
• A study board
• Time study work sheet
• Pencil
BEFORE TIME STUDY WE HAVE TO KNOW.

• Basic knowledge about garments.

• Operation Breakdown.
• Operator skill
• Basic operation knowledge.
Approach to the worker
• First approach the Supervisor
before the Operator.
• Always be polite
• Ask permission to do the
study.
• Stand in full view of the
operator
• Thank the operator once the
test is completed.
• If the difference in the time
study is more than 2% the
study is not accurate.
• Make the operator feel relaxed
Technique of Time Study

Target per hour 1st part of the 1st cycle then the
stopwatch is started

Allowance of 10% (e.g. Watch is stopped when the

some organization may operator reaches to pick up
give 15% for sewing the 1st part of the 2nd cycle
machine) applied for
daily interruptions gives
a standard time Recorded onto the
study sheet
Interruptions must
Reset to Zero
not be used
Repeated for about 10 – 15
cycles(e.g. special case 5
cycle)
Factors For Cycle Time Variation

•Variations in the quality of fabric used.

•Changes in the operating efficiency of machines within
their useful life,
•Minor changes in methods of operations performed
•Variations in the mental attention necessary for
the performance of certain Operation,
•Changes in climatic and other surrounding
conditions – lighting, humidity etc.…
 Performance Rating
• Rating is a technique used to assess the speed and
effectiveness of an operator performing an activity or
group of activities.
• Rating of an operation is carried out by a trained
observer who is experienced in assessing the
effectiveness of an operator.
Person Observed Time Rating (%) Basic Time

A 0.20 100 0.20

B 0.16 125 0.20
C 0.25 80 0.20

From the above table:

A is standard worker, B is a fast worker and C is a slow
worker.
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 Westinghouse Method of Rating
Westinghouse system utilizes a set of criteria to measure
the performance of the operators. The factors are. The
factors are:

• Skill – Measures the worker’s proficiency in performing

the operation.
• Effort – Measures the speed with which the skill is
applied.
• Consistency – Measures the factors which affect the
consistency of the operator to perform the work cycle
repeatedly.
• Conditions – Measures the extent to which the conditions
like temperature, vibrations, light and noise affect
performance

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 Performance Rating Table (Westinghouse Method)
Skill Effort
+ 0.15 A1 + 0.13 A1
+ 0.13 A2 Super skill + 0.12 A2 Excessive

+ 0.11 B1 + 0.10 B1
+ 0.08 B2 Excellent + 0.08 B2 Excellent

+ 0.06 C1 + 0.05 C1
+ 0.03 C2 Good + 0.02 C2 Good

0.00 D Average 0.00 D Average

- 0.05 E1 - 0.04 E1
- 0.10 E2 Fair - 0.08 E2 Fair

- 0.16 F1 - 0.12 F1
- 0.22 F2 Poor - 0.17 F2 Poor

Conditions Consistency
+ 0.06 A Ideal + 0.04 A Perfect
+ 0.04 B Excellent + 0.03 B Excellent
+ 0.02 C Good + 0.01 C Good
0.00 D Average 0.00 D Average
- 0.03 E Fair - 0.02 E Fair
- 0.07 F Poor - 0.04 F Poor 11
Example:
An observed time for an operation is 0.05 minutes and
the ratings are as follows:

Skill is excellent
Effort is good
Condition is good
Consistency is good

What is the performance rating factor and Normal

time for the operation?

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Solution:
The values for the ratings are as follows:
Criteria Rating Value
Skill B2 + 0.08
Effort C2 + 0.02
Condition C2 + 0.02
Consistency C + 0.01
Total + 0.13

a) Performance rating factor = 1 + 0.13 = 1.13 = 113%

b) Normal time of operation = observed time × performance rating
= 0.05 × 1.13
= 0.0565 minutes

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 Basic Time
This is the time taken by a qualified worker to
complete a piece of work at the standard rate of
performance.

Basic Time = Observed Time * Performance Rating

Exercise:
If the observed time is 0.16 minute and the
performance rating is 125%, the what would be
the Basic Time?

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 Allowances
• Relaxation Allowance: Relaxation allowance may
be of two types:

• Personal needs allowance- this is for attending personal

needs like drinking water, going to wash room etc.

A common personal allowance is about 5% of basic

time.

• Fatigue allowance- this allowance is given to compensate

for energy expended during working.

Fatigue allowance is generally considered as 4% of basic

time.

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Allowances
• Process allowance: A process allowance is an allowance
of time given to compensate for enforced idleness of an
operator due to the character of the process or operation
on which he or she is employed.
• For example- an operator may not be able to work
because he has to wait for a machine to complete its own
part or he may be the member of an unbalanced line.
• These are all unavoidable delay for which the operator is
not responsible.
• Process allowance are generally considered as 5% of the
basic time. ???

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• Special Allowances:

Such type of allowance may fall into following three

categories
This type of allowances should not exceed 5% .

• Periodic activity allowances- Allowance for activities carried

out at definite intervals of time. e.g., cleaning machines,
resetting machines etc.

• Interference allowance- This is the allowance to compensate

the unavoidable loss of production due to simultaneous
stoppage of one or more machine.

• Contingency Allowance- This is a small allowance of time

given to compensate such delay as tool breakage involving
removal of tool from the holder or power failures for small
duration.
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Typical Allowances For Machine

Machine Allowances:

• S/N Chainstitch 5%
• S/N Lockstitch 5%
• B/H Lockstitch 5%
• Multineedle Chainstitch 6%
• Overlock 6%
• Bartack 6%
Standard Time
Standard Time: It is the total time in
which a job should be completed at
standard performance.

Standard Time = Basic Time * (1+Allowance Factor)

S tan dard Time  Basic Time  Basic Time  Allowance

Exercise:
If the observed time is 0.25 minute , the performance
rating is 80% and the total allowance rate is 15% then
what would be the standard time of that operation?

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 Standard Time Calculation
1. Record Cycle Time (CT) of operation Using Stopwatch

2. Observed Time (OT): simply the average of the cycle times

OT 
 x i

n
3. Basic Time(BT): observed time would be adjusted by
worker performance

4. Standard Time (ST):

AF=Allowance
Factor
Example:
The recorded time for a trouser’s hem for 10 observations is
given below:

Observation Cycle Time (min)

1 0.42
2 0.43
3 0.42
4 0.41
5 0.42
6 0.42
7 0.40
8 0.43
9 0.42
10 0.42

If the performance rating is 85% and the allowance rate is 15%,

then what would be the standard time for trouser’s hem?
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Solution:
Observed time = Average time for observation
= 4.2 / 10 = 0.42 minute

Basic Time = Observed Time × Performance Rating

= 0.42 × 0.85 = 0.35224 minute

Standard Time = Basic Time + Basic Time ×

Allowances
= 0.357 *(1 + 0.15)
=.41minute
Standard time for trousers' hem is 0.41 minute.
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 Building up SMV

Cycle time Rating Relaxation Contingency

factor allowance allowance

Unavoidable
delays
(if performed at a pace

Work
Greater or Lower than standard
pace)

Basic time

Work content

Standard Minute Value

 Some Formula
 Input minute= Manpower*Working Time
 Output minute= SMV * Production Quantity

 Efficiency= (SMV * Production Quantity/ No

of Manpower*Working Time)*100%

 Target = Manpower*Working Time

/SMV

 Performance Rating= SMV/Observed Time

Q-1: Based on below table answer the following
question?

Product Type Jeans Jacket

SMV 3o min 40 min

Manpower 40 40
Working min 60 60

Production 50 40
Quantity
 Question?

• What is input minute for Jeans and Jackets?

• What is output minute for Jeans and Jackets?
• Which product is superior in terms of
production quantity?
• Which product is superior in terms of
efficiency? Justify your answer with efficiency
formula.
• Which Product is maximizing profit and Why?
Question: The below information is a sewing
line details:

Product SMV:10 min

Working Time: 1 hours
No of operator’s available-25 (22 operators &
3 Helpers.)

What is the target at 100% and 80%

efficiency level?