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WorkStudy WorkMeasurement
WorkStudy WorkMeasurement
WORK MEASUREMENT
JOSEPH GEORGE
KONNULLY
Definition of Work Measurement
Objectives and uses of WM
OBJECTIVES AND USES OF WORK MEASUREMENT
The main objectives of work measurement:
1. Manpower planning.
2. Production planning and scheduling.
3. Estimating productions costs.
4. Cost reduction and control.
5. Rational basis for incentives.
6. Performance appraisal.
7. Training of employees.
8. Comparing alternative methods.
9. Accepting new orders.
10. Fixing the selling cost.
Techniques/Methods/Types of WM
METHODS OF WORK MEASUREMENT
1. Historical data method
Historical data method uses the past-performance data. Here, past performance is used as a
guideline for setting work performance standards. The main advantage of this technique is that
it is simple to understand, quicker to estimate and easier to implement. However, past
performance is not the best basis for fixing performance standards. This is because there may
be many changes in technology, employees’ behavior, abilities, etc.
2. Time study
Time study with the help of a stop watch is the most commonly used work measurement
method. This technique was developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor (1856-1915).
Time study is best suited for short-cycle repetitive jobs. Most of the production jobs can be
easily timed by a time-study.
Time study procedure consists of the following steps:
Select the job to be timed.
Standardize the method of doing the job.
Select the worker to be studied.
Record the necessary details of the job and conditions of work.
Divide the job into elements. Here, ’element’ is a part of the job.
Find out the time taken to do every single element.
Keep provisions for relaxation, etc.
Fix the standard time for doing the job.
METHODS OF WORK MEASUREMENT
3. Work sampling
Work sampling method was original developed by Leonard Henry Caleb Tippett (1902-1985) in Britain in 1934. In this
technique, the workers are observed many times at random. It is done to find out for how much time the worker is actually
on the job. It checks how long he is working and how much time he is not working (idle time).
Work sampling method does not involve stop watch measurement. The purpose of work sampling technique is to estimate
what proportion of a worker’s time is devoted to work-related activities.
Work sampling method involves following three main steps:
Deciding what activities are defined as ’working’. Non-working are those activities which are not defined as working.
Observe the worker at selected intervals and record (write down) whether he is working or not.
Calculate the portion of time (P), a worker is working.
A portion of time (P) a worker is working equals to ’Number of observations during which working occurred’ divided by
’Total Number of observations.’
The above calculation is used as a performance standard.
Advantages of Work Sampling
The benefits or advantages of work sampling method are as follows:
Work sampling gives an unbiased result since workmen are not under close observation.
A work sampling study may be interrupted at any time without affecting the results.
Work sampling can be conducted by anyone with limited training. There is no need to have experts.
Team work can be studied by work sampling and not by the time-study.
Work sampling is economical and less time-consuming than time study. This is because more than one worker can be
studied at the same time. Secondly, observer needs not to be present himself for a long time.
7. Add the suitable allowances to compensate for fatigue, personal needs, contingencies.
etc. to give standard time for each element.
8. Compute allowed time for the entire job by adding elemental standard times considering
frequency of occurrence of each element.
9. Make a detailed job description describing the method for which the standard time is
established.
10. Test and review standards wherever necessary.
Definitions of Standard time
Standard time is the time allowed to an operator to carry out the specified task
under specified conditions and defined level of performance. The various
allowances are added to the normal time as applicable to get the standard time as
shown in Fig. 7.6.
Standard time may be defined as the, amount of time required to complete a unit of
work:
(a) under existing working conditions, (b) using the specified method and
machinery, (c) by an operator, able to the work in a proper manner, and (d) at a
standard pace.
Thus basic constituents of standard time are:
1. Elemental (observed time).
2. Performance rating to compensate for difference in pace of working.(PRF)
3. Relaxation allowance.
4. Interference and contingency allowance.
5. Policy allowance.
Components of Standard Time
• OT – Observed Time
• PRF – Performance Rating Factor
• NT – Normal Time
• PA – Process Allowances
• RPA – Rest and Personal Allowances (Relaxation Allowance)
• SA – Special Allowances( Interference and Contingency Allowances)
• PoA – Policy Allowances
• PFD – Personal , Fatigue and Delay Allowances = (PA+RPA+SA)
•
Computation of Standard Time
Illustrations
• ILLUSTRATION 1: Assuming that the total observed time for an operation of
• assembling an electric switch is 1.00 min. If the rating is 120%, find normal time. If an
• allowance of 10% is allowed for the operation, determine the standard time.
• SOLUTION:
• Obsersved time (or) selected time = 1.00 min
• Rating = 120%
• Allowance = 10%
• As we know that, normal time = Observed time × Rating % ÷ 100 = 1.00 ×120 ÷10=1.20min
• Allowance @ 10% = 1.20 ×10 ÷ 100 = 0.12 min
• ∴ Standard time = Normal time + Allowances
• = 1.20 + 0.12 = 1.32 min.