This document provides an overview of time study techniques used in industrial engineering. It discusses stopwatch time study, standard data, method time measurement (MTM), and the steps involved in each. Specifically, it covers:
1. How stopwatch time studies break jobs into elements that are timed and adjusted for performance ratings to set standard times.
2. How standard data involves compiling elemental time standards from previous studies to set times without stopwatches.
3. How MTM analyzes jobs into basic motions that each have predetermined time values based on the motion and conditions.
4. The objectives and advantages of each technique in setting accurate productivity standards for planning and control.
1. MEA1404 – Industrial Engineering and Management
with Industrial Organization
Unit –III Part II
Dr. R.SARAVANAN
Professor & Head,
Department of Industrial Engineering,
Institute of Mechanical Engineering,
Saveetha School of Engineering,
Saveetha Institute of Medical And Technical Sciences, Chennai 1
2. Unit – 3 Work Design
Topics
Completed, Ongoing & Uncovered
Introduction to work study – Method study – Time study – stopwatch time study – Standard
data - Method Time Measurement (M-T-M) – Work sampling – Ergonomics.
Topic Planned Today: Time study – stopwatch time study - Standard data - Method Time
Measurement (M-T-M)
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3. RECORDING TECHNIQUES
1. The next step in basic procedure, after selecting the work to be studied is to record all
facts relating to the existing method.
2. Records are very much useful to make before and after comparison to assess the
effectiveness of the proposed improved method.
3. The recording techniques are designed to simplify and standardize the recording work.
4. Graphical method of recording was originated by Gilberth.
5. In order to make the presentation of the facts clearly, without any ambiguity and to
enable to grasp them quickly and clearly, it is useful to use symbols instead of written
description.
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4. METHOD STUDY SYMBOLS
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Symbol Meaning Description Example
Operation An operation occurs when an object is
intentionally changed in one or more of its
characteristics
• Turning, drilling, milling, etc.
• A chemical reaction.
Inspection An inspection occurs when an object is
examined and Compared with standard for
quality and quantity.
• Visual observations for finish
• Checking the dimensions
Transportation A transport indicates the movement of
workers, materials or equipment from one
place to another.
• Movement of materials from one
work station to another.
Delay A delay occurs when the immediate
performance of the next planned thing does
not take place.
• Work waiting between consecutive
operations.
• Operators waiting for instructions
Storage A storage occurs when the object is kept in an
authorized custody and is protected against
unauthorized removal
• materials kept in stores
6. RECORDING TECHNIQUES
1. According to the nature of the job being studied and the purpose for which the record is
required the techniques fall into following categories:
1. Charts.
2. Diagrams.
3. Templates and models.
2. Chats include: 1. Operation Process Chart (outline process chart), 2. Flow Process Chart
(Man type, Material type and Equipment type), 3. Multiple Activity Chart, 4. Two Handed
Process Chart, 5. Travel Chart and 6. Simo Chart.
3. Diagrams include: 1. Flow and String Diagrams, 2. Models and Templates and 3. Cycle
Graph and Chronocycle. 6
19. TIME STUDY
1. Work measurement is also called "Time study."
2. Work measurement is absolutely essential for both the planning and control of operations.
3. Without measurement data, we cannot determine the capacity of facilities or it is not possible
to quote delivery dates or costs.
4. We are not in a position to determine rate of production and labour utilization and efficiency.
5. It may not be possible to introduce incentive schemes and standard costs for budgetary
control.
6. Time study has been defined by British Standard Institution as "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." 19
20. OBJECTIVES OF WORK MEASUREMENT
1. The objectives of work measurement are to provide a sound basis for:
1. Comparing alternative methods.
2. Assessing the correct initial manning (manpower requirement planning).
3. Planning and control.
4. Realistic costing.
5. Financial incentive schemes.
6. Delivery date of goods.
7. Cost reduction and cost control.
8. Identifying substandard for workers.
9. Training new employees. 20
21. TECHNIQUES OF WORK MEASUREMENT
1. For the purpose of work measurement, work can be regarded as:
1. Repetitive Work: Type of work in which the main operation or group of operations repeat
continuously during the time spent at the job.
2. Non-repetitive Work: It includes some type of maintenance and construction work.
2. Techniques of work measurement are:
1. Time study (stop watch technique)
2. Synthesis
3. Work sampling
4. Analytical estimating
5. Predetermined motion and time study (PMTS) 21
22. TECHNIQUES OF WORK MEASUREMENT
1. Time study and work sampling involve direct observation and the remaining are data based
and analytical in nature.
2. Time study: A work measurement technique for recording the times and rates of working for
the elements of a specified job carried out under specified conditions and for analyzing the
data so as to determine the time necessary for carrying out the job at the defined level of
performance.
3. Synthetic data: A work measurement technique for building up the time for a job or parts of
the job at a defined level of performance by totaling element times obtained previously from
time studies on other jobs containing the elements concerned or from synthetic data.
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23. TECHNIQUES OF WORK MEASUREMENT
1. Work sampling: A technique in which a large number of observations are made over a period
of time of one or group of machines, processes or workers. Each observation records what is
happening at that instant and the percentage of observations recorded for a particular activity,
m delay, is a measure of the percentage of time during which that activities delay occurs.
2. Predetermined Motion Time Study (PMTS): A work measurement technique whereby times
established for basic human motions (classified according to the nature of the motion and
conditions under which it is made) are used to build up the time for a job at the defined level
of performance. The most commonly used PMTS is known as Methods Time Measurement
(MTM).
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24. STEPS IN MAKING TIME STUDY
1. Stop watch time study is the basic technique for determining accurate time standards, which is
economical for repetitive type of work.
2. Steps in taking the time study are:
1. Select the work to be studied.
2. Obtain and record all the information available about the job, the operator and the working
conditions likely to affect the time study work.
3. Breakdown the operation into elements. An element is a distinct part of a specified activity
composed of one or more fundamental motions selected for convenience of observation
and timing.
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25. STEPS IN MAKING TIME STUDY
1. Measure the time by means of a stop watch, taken by the operator to perform each element
of the operation. Either continuous method or snap back method of timing could be used.
2. At the same time, assess the operators effective speed of work relative to the observer's
concept of "Normal" speed. This is called performance rating.
3. Adjust the observed time by rating factor to obtain normal time for each element
4. Add the suitable allowances to compensate for fatigue, personal needs; contingencies, etc.,
to give standard time for each element.
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26. STEPS IN MAKING TIME STUDY
1. Compute allowed time for the entire job by adding elemental standard times considering
frequency of occurrence of each element.
2. Make a detailed job description describing the method for which the standard time is
established.
3. Test and review standards where necessary
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28. STOPWATCH TIME STUDY
1. Stop is the measuring instrument to observe the elemental timings and usually a decimal
watch is used.
2. A decimal minute stop watch has two hands.
3. The small hand represents minutes on dial and completes one revolution in 30 minutes.
4. The-large hand represents centi-minutes (1/100th minute) and completes one revolution in one
minute and each division on large dial represents 0.01 minute.
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29. STOPWATCH TIME STUDY
1. Two commonly used types of stop watches are:
2. Cumulative stop watch: The watch is started by pressing the winding knob located on the head
of the watch and is stopped by pressing the winding knob. Pressing winding knob third time
snaps the hands back to zero. Once started it will run until required number of cycles have
been timed.
3. Fly back stop watch: This is most commonly used watch. In this type of watch the movement
is started and stopped by a slide (A) at the side of the winding knob (B). Pressure on the top of
the winding knob causes both the hands to fly back to zero without stopping the mechanism
from which point they move forward immediately. This type of watch is used for either fly
back or cumulative timing method. 29
30. STANDARD DATA
1. Standard data are elemental time standards taken from time studies of elements or group of
elements that are alike.
2. These are classified and filed so that they can be readily used when necessary.
3. Housewives normally count predetermined number(s) of whistles from a pressure cooker
boiling potato or rice.
4. This counting help housewives to avoid opening the cooker a number of times to check the
readiness of the cooking item within the cooker.
5. Standard data refers to all the tabulated elemental standards that are being compiled to allow
the measurement of a specific job without the necessity of a timing device such as the
stopwatch. 30
31. STANDARD DATA
1. Standard data have many advantages.
1. They help in reducing the number of time studies required.
2. They help in shortening the time needed to set the standard.
3. They support in bringing greater accuracy and consistency in time standards for a given
class of work.
4. Standard data may be applied more quickly on a new work than by stopwatch study.
5. They allow the establishment of standards on indirect labour operations
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32. STEPS FOLLOWED TO DEVELOP
STANDARD DATA
1. Decide on Coverage: The coverage should be restricted to one or more departments or work
areas or to a limited range of processes within a plant (for example, those involved in
manufacturing a specific product) in which several similar elements; performed by the same
method. are involved in carrying out the jobs.
2. Break the Jobs into Elements, through Job Analysis: In this case, try to identify as many
elements as possible that are common to the various jobs. For example, we have a worker in a
fruit-packing plant who works at the end of the operation and whose job is to remove a carton
of fruit from a conveyor belt. stencil the name of the customer on the carton and carry it to a
nearby skid.
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33. STEPS FOLLOWED TO DEVELOP
STANDARD DATA
1. Decide on type of reading, i.e., whether you will use readings based on stop-watch time study
(macroscopic systems) or derived from PTS systems such as MTM (microscopic systems). As
explained earlier, the nature of the job and the cost of applying each system will be the major
determining factors. If stop-watch time study is chosen, sufficient time must be allowed to
collect the readings necessary to produce statistically reliable data.
2. Determine the factors that are likely to affect the time for each element and classify them into
major factors. Let us make a simple example: the case of a worker walking. If the time for this
activity is calculated, it will be found that there is always a variation in the readings. This is
due to several factors, some major and others which may be considered minor.
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34. STEPS FOLLOWED TO DEVELOP
STANDARD DATA
1. When using macroscopic systems, measure the time taken to perform the activity from actual
observations. Here, the study man can choose arbitrary distances and time the worker for each
distance.
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35. METHOD-TIME-MEASUREMENT (M-T-M)
1. A predetermined motion time system (PMTS) consists of a set of time data and a systematic
procedure which analyses and subdivides any manual operation of human task into motions,
body motions, or either elements of human performance, and assigns to each the appropriate
time value.
2. Methods Time Measurement (MTM) procedure is defined as: "A procedure which analysis
any manual operation or method into the basic motions required to perform it and assigns to
each motion a predetermined time standard which is determined by the nature of the motion
and the conditions under which it was made."
3. The primary objective, of MTM is to improve methods of operation and it establishes methods
accurately before production starts by determining correct times and operations 35
36. METHOD-TIME-MEASUREMENT (M-T-M)
1. The objective of MTM is the establishment of tangible, understandable and acceptable data for
the scientific measurement of human effort.
2. Uses of MTM are:
1. Developing effective methods and plans in advance of beginning production.
2. Improving existing methods.
3. Establishing time standards.
4. Cost estimating.
5. Training supervisors to become method conscious.
6. Research in the areas like operating methods, performance rating.
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37. METHOD-TIME-MEASUREMENT (M-T-M)
1. MTM procedure recognizes:
1. Eight manual movements.
2. Nine pedal and trunk movements.
3. Two ocular movements.
2. Thus there are nineteen fundamental motions considered in establishment of motion pattern.
3. The time for each of these motions are determined not only by the physical conditions
involved in the motion’s performance but also by the nature of the conditions under which it is
made.
4. Thus, the time for a given motion is affected by a combination of physical and mental
conditions. Unit of MTM is TMU. One TMU = 0.0006 minutes. 37
38. MTM VERSIONS
1. MTM-1 is the most accurate. Provides the most detailed method detailed description but
requires the longest time for analysis.
2. MTM-2 was developed. by constructing motion combinations from basic motion of MTM-1.
The analysis can be done more quickly than MTM-1.
3. MTM-3 is the simplest of the MTM systems and is intended for use with long cycle short run
operations. Speed of analysis is seven times faster than MTM-1.
4. MTM-3 should not be used for analyzing manual motions with a frequency higher than 10 or
sequence of eye motions.
5. The MTM should be used with caution. A sufficient training is essential to take up the MTM
measurement. 38
