Methods, Standards,

and Work Design

Engr. Jemarlyn B. Maldia
 Methods engineering includes designing, creating, and
selecting the best manufacturing methods, processes, tools,
equipment, and skills to manufacture a product based on the
specifications that have been developed by the product engineering
section. When the best method interfaces with the best skills
METHODS available, an efficient worker–machine relationship exists. Once the
AND complete method has been established, a standard time for the
product must be determined. Furthermore, there is the
STANDARDS responsibility to see that
(1) predetermined standards are met;
SCOPE
(2) workers are adequately compensated for their output, skills,
responsibilities, and experience; and
(3) workers have a feeling of satisfaction from the work that they
do.
The overall procedure includes
defining the problem; breaking
the job down into operations;
analyzing each operation to
determine the most economical
manufacturing procedures for
the quantity involved, with due
regard for operator safety and
job interest; applying proper time
values; and then following
through to ensure that the
prescribed method is put into
operation.
 The terms operation analysis, work design, work simplification,
methods engineering, and corporate reengineering are frequently
used synonymously. In most cases, the person is referring to a
technique for increasing the production per unit of time or
decreasing the cost per unit output—in other words, productivity
METHODS improvement.

ENGINEERING However, methods engineering, as defined in this text, entails

analyses at two different times during the history of a product. First,
the methods engineer is responsible for designing and developing
the various work centers where the product will be produced.
Second, that engineer must continually restudy the work centers to
find a better way to produce the product and/or improve its quality.
 1. Select the project
2. Get and present the data
3. Analyze the data
METHODS 4. Develop the ideal method

ENGINEERING 5. Present and install the method

6. Develop a job evaluation
7. Establish time standards
8. Follow up the method
 Work design is the study and design of a work system in an
organizational context. The economic concept of work is associated
with wages and employment.
Assumptions of Work Design:
WORK - Work system tries to improve productivity and effectiveness
DESIGN - Work systems are in three states-design, betterment,
improvement
- Work design considers all aspects of the work system
- Work design integrates abilities and talents
 Standards are the end result of time study or work measurement.
This technique establishes a time standard allowed to perform a
given task, based on measurements of the work content of the
prescribed method, with due consideration for fatigue and for
personal and unavoidable delays. Time study analysts use several
STANDARDS techniques to establish a standard: a stopwatch time study,
computerized data collection, standard data, predetermined time
systems, work sampling, and estimates based on historical data.
Each technique is applicable to certain conditions. Time study
analysts must know when to use a given technique and must then
use that technique judiciously and correctly.
 Work measurement refers to the different ways of finding out how
long a job or part of a job should take to complete. It is the process
of establishing the time that a given task would take when
performed by a qualified worker working at a defined level of
performance.
WORK Objectives of work measurement plan:
MEASUREMEN • To analyze the labor needs of an operation
T • To develop labor standards for that operation
• To measure and analyze deviations from those standards
• To work for continuous improvement in the labor standards used
in operation.
 Activities under work measurement plan:
• To develop a methodology for establishing and maintaining standard
accuracy
• Improving operations by conducting engineering analysis
• Revising standards and related system data and
• To assist in budgeting, estimating, production planning and
WORK performance evaluation using labor standards
MEASUREMEN Work Measurement Process:
T • The analysis phase: in this phase the job is divided into convenient and
discrete elements
• The measurement phase: a specific measurement technique is used to
establish the time required by a qualified worker working at a defined
level of performance to complete each element of work
• Synthesis phase: the various elements are added together with
appropriate allowances to work out the standard time for the complete
job.
FACTORS 1. Purpose of measurement
AFFECTING THE 2. Availability of database
CHOICE OF A 3. Extent of details required
SUITABLE 4. Available time for measurement
MEASUREMENT 5. Cost of measurement
TECHNIQUE
 Time study is carried out by direct observation of the work. The
purpose of time study is to set normal times and then standard
times to carry out the specific work. Time study aims at establishing
the time for a qualified worker to perform a specified work under
stated conditions and at a defined rate of working.
Time study is carried out by a qualified practitioner, who observed
the work, records the work being done and then notes down the
time with the help of time measuring device, usually a stop watch.
TIME STUDY
The practitioner observes no. of cycles of the task depending on the
variability in the task and the level of accuracy required. The total
no. of observations are made over a range of working conditions
especially in cases where the working conditions are variable and
subject to change during the day or over a period. The observation
should also cover a range of workers to neutralize the individual
effect. Once a normal time for each element of the work is
determined allowances are added to arrive at the standard time.
 Requirements for a Time Study:
• Time study should ne carried out by a qualified person
• The person carrying out the time study must be fully trained and
TIME STUDY experienced in the work
• The work must be clearly defined and the method of doing the
work should be efficient
• The working conditions should be defined
 Two elements of normal time
1. Timing – it is the actual time recorded by the observer for doing
the element of work or operation under study. The time is
recorded with the help of stopwatch or computerized study
board and is measured in centi-minutes.
2. The method of one worker usually differs from the method of
working of another worker. The results in difference observed
TIME STUDY times for each worker for the same work carried. The reason for
this difference is speed, efforts, consistency and training of the
worker for the specified task. A worker doing a task for the first
time will take more time as compared to the person who is
doing it for so long.
Normal time = (observed time x observed rating)
standard rating
 Different conditions require different time to complete the task. So
keeping this thing in mind some allowance is provided to the worker
and the time of allowance depends on the working conditions. The
various allowances are summarized as under:
1. Fatigue allowance
ALLOWANCES
2. Attention to personal needs – this allowance ranges from 4% to
7% of the total time
3. Delay allowance based on actual delays that occur
4. Contingency allowance
 The time taken by a qualified worker to perform a particular
observation is referred to as a standard time

STANDARD Standard time is represented by formula:

TIME Normal time + allowances OR

Normal time
1 – allowance factor
 1. Minimize the time required to perform tasks.
2. Continually improve the quality and reliability of products and
services.
OBJECTIVES OF 3. Conserve resources and minimize cost by specifying the most
appropriate direct and indirect materials for the production of
METHODS, goods and services.
STANDARDS, 4. Consider the cost and availability of power.
AND WORK 5. Maximize the safety, health, and well-being of all employees.
DESIGN 6. Produce with an increasing concern for protecting the
environment.
7. Follow a humane program of management that results in job
interest and satisfaction for each employee.
Questions?
THANK YOU!