This document discusses various methods for establishing labor standards and work measurement, including historical experience, time studies, predetermined time standards, and work sampling. It provides details on how to conduct time studies and work sampling, including defining tasks, timing elements, determining sample sizes, and calculating normal, standard, and idle times. The goal is to help set meaningful standards that can be used to determine staffing needs, production levels, and incentive plans.

1. Operations
Management
Supplement 10 –
Work Measurement
PowerPoint presentation to accompany
Heizer/Render
Principles of Operations Management, 7e
Operations Management, 9e
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2. Outline
 Labor Standards and Work
Measurement
 Historical Experience
 Time Studies
 Predetermined Time
Standards
 Work Sampling
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3. Learning Objectives
When you complete this supplement
you should be able to:
 Identify four ways of establishing labor
standards
 Compute the normal and standard
times in a time study
 Find the proper sample size for a time
study
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4. Learning Objectives
When you complete this supplement
you should be able to:
 Explain how predetermined time
standards and TMUs are used in work
measurement
 Apply the five steps of work sampling
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5. Labor Standards and Work
Measurement
 Started early in the 20th century
 Important to both manufacturing
and service organizations
 Necessary for determining staffing
requirements
 Important to labor incentive
systems
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6. Meaningful Standards Help
Determine
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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Labor content of items produced
Staffing needs
Cost and time estimates
Crew size and work balance
Expected production
Basis of wage incentive plans
Efficiency of employees
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7. Labor Standards
May be set in four ways:
1. Historical experience
2. Time studies
3. Predetermined time standards
4. Work sampling
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8. Historical Experience
 How the task was performed last
time
 Easy and inexpensive
 Data available from production
records or time cards
 Data is not objective and may be
inaccurate
 Not recommended
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9. Time Studies
 Involves timing a sample of a
worker’s performance and using it
to set a standard
 Requires trained and experienced
observers
 Cannot be set before the work is
performed
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10. Time Studies
1. Define the task to be studied
2. Divide the task into precise
elements
3. Decide how many times to measure
the task
4. Time and record element times and
rating of performance
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11. Time Studies
5. Compute average observed time
Average
observed
time
=
Sum of the times recorded
to perform each element
Number of observations
6. Determine performance rating
and normal time
Average
Normal time = observed
time
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Performance
x rating factor
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12. Time Studies
7. Add the normal times for each
element to develop the total normal
time for the task
8. Compute the standard time
Total normal time
Standard time =
1 - Allowance factor
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13. Rest Allowances
 Personal time allowance
 4% - 7% of total time for use of
restroom, water fountain, etc.
 Delay allowance
 Based upon actual delays that occur
 Fatigue allowance
 Based on our knowledge of human
energy expenditure
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14. Rest Allowances
1. Constant allowance
(A) Personal allowance ……………...
(B) Basic fatigue allowance …………
2. Variable allowances:
(A) Standing allowance ………………
(B) Abnormal position
(i) Awkward (bending) …………
(ii) Very awkward (lying,
stretching) ……………………
Figure S10.1
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5
4
2
2
7
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15. Rest Allowances
(C) Use of force or muscular energy in
lifting, pulling, pushing
Weight lifted (pounds)
20 …………………………………… 3
40……………………………………. 9
60……………………………………. 17
(D) Bad light:
(i) Well below recommended…. 2
(ii) Quite inadequate……………. 5
Figure S10.1
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16. Rest Allowances
(E) Atmospheric conditions
(heat and humidity) …………… 0-10
(F) Close attention:
(i) Fine or exacting……………….. 2
(ii) Very fine or very exacting…… 5
(G) Noise level:
(i) Intermittent—loud…………….. 2
(ii) Intermittent—very loud
or high-pitched………………... 5
Figure S10.1
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17. Rest Allowances
(H) Mental strain:
(i) Complex or wide span
of attention.…………………….. 4
(ii) Very complex………………….. 8
(I) Tediousness:
(i) Tedious…………..……………… 2
(ii) Very tedious.…………………… 5
Figure S10.1
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18. Time Study Example S1
Average observed time = 4.0 minutes
Worker rating = 85%
Allowance factor = 13%
Normal time = (Average observed time) x (Rating factor)
= (4.0)(.85)
= 3.4 minutes
3.4
Normal time
3.4
Standard time =
=
=
1 - .13
1 - Allowance factor
.87
= 3.9 minutes
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19. Time Study Example S2
Allowance factor = 15%
Cycle Observed (in minutes)
Performance
Rating
Job Element
1
2
3
4
5
(A) Compose and type letter
8
10
9
21*
11
120%
(B) Type envelope address
2
3
2
1
3
105%
(C) Stuff, stamp, seal, and
sort envelopes
2
1
5*
2
1
110%
1. Delete unusual or nonrecurring observations (marked with *)
2. Compute average times for each element
Average time for A = (8 + 10 + 9 + 11)/4 = 9.5 minutes
Average time for B = (2 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 3)/5 = 2.2 minutes
Average time for C = (2 + 1 + 2 + 1)/4 = 1.5 minutes
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20. Time Study Example S2
3. Compute the normal time for each element
Normal time = (Average observed time) x (Rating)
Normal time for A = (9.5)(1.2) = 11.4 minutes
Normal time for B = (2.2)(1.05) = 2.31 minutes
Normal time for C = (1.5)(1.10) = 1.65 minutes
4. Add the normal times to find the total normal time
Total normal time = 11.40 + 2.31 + 1.65 = 15.36 minutes
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21. Time Study Example S2
5. Compute the standard time for the job
Standard time =
Total normal time
1 - Allowance factor
15.36
=
= 18.07 minutes
1 - .15
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22. Determine Sample Size
 How accurate we want to be
 The desired level of confidence
 How much variation exists within
the job elements
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23. Determine Sample Size
zs
Required sample size = n =
hx
where
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2
h
=
accuracy level desired in
percent of the job element expressed as
a decimal
z
=
number of standard
deviations required for the desired level
of confidence
s
=
standard deviation of the
initial sample
x
=
mean of the initial sample
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24. Determine Sample Size
zs
Required sample size = n =
hx
Desired
z Value
Common z Values
where
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Confidence
(%)
2
(standard deviation required for
desired level of confidence)
h
=
accuracy level desired in
1.65
percent of the job element expressed as
95.0 decimal
1.96
a
95.45 =
z
number 2.00
of standard
99.0
deviations required 2.58 the desired level
for
99.73confidence
3.00
of
s
=
standard deviation of the
Table S10.1
initial sample
x
=
mean of the initial sample
90.0
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25. Time Study Example S3
Desired accuracy with 5%
Confidence level = 95%
Sample standard deviation = 1.0
Sample mean = 3.00
h = .05
x = 3.00
s = 1.0
z = 1.96 (from Table S10.1 or Appendix I)
zs
n=
hx
2
1.96 x 1.0
n=
.05 x 3
© 2008 Prentice Hall, Inc.
2
= 170.74 ≈ 171
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26. Time Study Example S3
Variations
If desired accuracy h is expressed as an absolute
amount, substitute e for hx, where e is the
absolute amount of acceptable error
zs
n=
e
2
When the standard deviation s is not provided,
it must be computed
s=
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∑(xi - x)2
n-1
=
∑(Each sample observation - x)2
Number in sample - 1
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27. New Tools
 With PDA software, you can study
elements, time, performance rate, and
statistical confidence intervals can be
created,
edited,
managed,
and logged
 Reduces or
eliminates
the need
for data entry
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28. Predetermined Time
Standards
 Divide manual work into small basic
elements that have established times
 Can be done in a laboratory away from
the actual production operation
 Can be set before
the work is actually
performed
 No performance
ratings are necessary
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29. MTM Table
Figure S10.2
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30. MTM Example
Weight - less than 2 pounds
Conditions of GET - easy
Place accuracy - approximate
Distance range - 8 to 20 inches
Element Description
Element
Time
Get tube from rack
AA2
35
Get stopper, place on counter
AA2
35
Get centrifuge tube, place at sample table
AD2
45
PT
83
PC2
40
Pour (3 seconds)
Place tubes in rack (simo)
Total TMU
238
.0006 x 238 = Total standard minutes = .14
Table S10.2
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31. Work Sampling
 Estimates percent of time a worker
spends on various tasks
 Requires random observations to
record worker activity
 Determines how employees allocate
their time
 Can be used to set staffing levels,
reassign duties, estimate costs, and
set delay allowances
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32. Work Sampling
 Advantages of work sampling
 Less expensive than time study
 Observers need little training
 Studies can be delayed or interrupted
with little impact on results
 Worker has little
chance to affect
results
 Less intrusive
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33. Work Sampling
 Disadvantages of work sampling
 Does not divide work elements as
completely as time study
 Can yield biased results if observer
does not follow random pattern
 Less accurate, especially when
job element times are short
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34. Work Sampling
1. Take a preliminary sample to obtain
estimates of parameter values
2. Compute the sample size required
3. Prepare a schedule for random
observations at appropriate times
4. Observe and record worker activities
5. Determine how workers spend their
time
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35. Work Sampling
Determining the sample size
z2 p(1 - p)
n=
h2
where
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n =
required sample size
z =
standard normal deviate
for desired confidence level
p =
estimated value of
sample proportion
h =
acceptable error level in
percent
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36. Work Sampling Example
Wants employees idle 25% of the time
Sample should be accurate within 3%
Wants to have 95.45% confidence in the results
z2 p(1 - p)
n=
h2
where
n=
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(2)2
n
=
required sample size
z
=
2 for a 95.45% confidence
level
p
=
estimate of idle proportion
= 25% = .25
h
=
(.25)(.75) acceptable error of 3% = .
= 833 observations
03 2
(.03)
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37. Work Sampling Example
No. of
Observations
Activity
485
On the phone or meeting with a welfare client
126
Idle
62
Personal time
23
Discussions with supervisor
137
Filing, meeting, and computer data entry
833
All but idle and personal time are work related.
Percentage idle time = (126 + 62)/833 = 22.6%.
Since this is less than the target value of 25%,
the workload needs to be adjusted.
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38. Work Sampling Time
Studies
Salespeople
Telephone
sales
12%
Telephone
within firm
13%
Figure S10.3
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Sales in Travel
person
20%
20%
Paperwork
17%
Lunch and
personal
10%
Meetings
and other
8%
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39. Work Sampling Time
Studies
Startup/pep talk
3%
Assembly-Line
Employees
Breaks and lunch
10%
Dead time
between tasks
13%
Productive
work
67%
Unscheduled tasks
and downtime
4%
Cleanup
3%
Figure S10.3
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