This document discusses various methods and techniques for conducting a method study, which is a systematic analysis and improvement of work methods. It describes the basic procedure for a method study as selecting, recording, examining, developing, evaluating, defining, installing, and maintaining improved methods. Various charts and diagrams that can be used in the recording and analysis phases are explained, including operation process charts, flow process charts, two-handed process charts, multiple activity charts, flow diagrams, string diagrams, SIMO charts, and therblings analysis. The overall aim of a method study is to eliminate unnecessary operations and make work methods more efficient.

1. By:
MOHAMMAD RAFE
B.E (Mech)

2.  Methods engineering /work design
 Breakdown of operation into components
 Systematic analysis of each component
 Eliminates un-necessary operations
 According to BSI
 It is systematic recording & examination of existing
methods of doing work and developing more effective
methods”
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3. SELECT
RECORD
EXAMINE
DEVELOPE
EVALUATE
DEFINE
INSTALL
MAINTAIN
Procedure for
Method Study
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4. Recording
techniques for
Method Study
Charts
Macro Motion
charts
1.Operations Process Chart
2.Flow Process Chart
3.Two Handed Process Chart
4.Multiplle Activity Chart
Micro Motion
charts
SIMO Chart
Diagrams
1.Flow Diagram
2.String Diagram
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6. OPERATION
INSPECTION
TRANSPORTATION
DELAY
STORAGE
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7. 1.Operation Process Chart
•Also called Outline process chart
•Bird’s eye view of whole process
•Records only major activities and inspections
•Uses only two symbols i.e. operations & inspection
•Constructed by placing symbols one below another
Uses
•Visualize sequence of operations & inspections in process
•Know where operations selected fits into the entire process
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8. 2. Flow Process Chart
• Gives sequence of flow of work
• Operations, inspection, storage, delay and transportation are
represented
• Constructed same as operation process chart
• Three types
1. Material type
2. Man type
3. Equipment type
Uses
•Reduce idle time and delays
•Reduce distance travelled
•Reduce production cycle time
•To relocate inspection stages
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9. Distance in
meter
Symbol Process description
10 Move to cabinet
- Get loaf of bread
- Remove two slices of bread
- Lay slices on table top
- Close loaf of bread
- Replace loaf on shelf
- Open butter
- Spread butter on top slice
- Inspect sandwich
- Move to serving area
10 Serve sandwich
Process chart for making a cheese sandwich
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10. 3.Two handed process chart
•Most detailed type
•Activities of workers hand recorded in relation to one another
•Confined to work carried out at a single workplace
Uses
•Visualize complete sequence of activities in repetitive task
•Study work station layout
4.Multiple activity chart
•Activities of more than one subject each recorded
•Common time scale to show inter-relationship
Uses
•Study idle time
•Determine no. of machines handled by one operator
•Determine no. of operators required
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11. Time Operator Machine 1
Washer
Machine 2
Dryer
# Sec Load clothes & detergent
in machine 1
Being loaded Idle
idle Run Idle
- Remove clothes from
machine 1
Being unloaded Idle
- Load clothes into machine
2
Idle Being loaded
- Load clothes & detergent
into machine 1
Being loaded Run
- Idle Run Run
- Remove clothes from
machine 2
Idle Being unloaded
- Hang clothes Idle Idle
Multiple activity chart for doing three loads of laundry
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13. 1.Flow diagram
•Drawing of working area & showing location of various activities
•Shows the route followed and selects the optimum one
•Study different layout and selecting optimum one
•Study traffic and frequency over different routes
Procedure :
•Layout of workplace is drawn to scale
•Relative positions of the m/c tools, storage & inspection benches
are marked on the scale
•Path followed by the subject under study is tracked by drawing
lines
•Each movement is serially numbered & indicated by arrow for
direction
•Different colors are used to denote different types of movements
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14. 1.String diagram
•Scale layout drawing
•length of a string is used to record extent & pattern of movements
of a worker within a limited area.
•Movements difficult to trace on flow diagram can be shown
•Shows the route followed and selects the optimum one
•Study different layout and selecting optimum one
•Study traffic and frequency over different routes
Procedure :
•A Layout of workplace is drawn to scale
•Pins are fixed into boards to mark locations of workstations
•Pins are also driven at turning points of the routes
•A measured length of thread is taken to trace the movements
•The distance covered by object is obtained by measuring the
remaining part of the thread and subtracting it from original length
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15. •Suggested by Frank o Gilbreth
•Technique for recording and timing an activity
•Divides human activities in a group of movements or micro
motions (called therblings)
•Helps to find best pattern of movements for an operator that
consumes less time and requires less effort
Steps involved
•Filming the operation to be studied
•Analysis of the data from the film
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16. Sr. Code Name Description Colour
1. SH SEARCH Locate an article Black
2. G GRASP Taking Hold Red
3. H HOLD Prolonged grasp Gold
ochre
4. A ASSEMBLE Putting parts
together
Violet
5. DA DIS-
ASSEMBLE
Separating parts Light violet
6. U USE Causing a device
to perform its
function
Purple
7. R REST Pause to
overcome fatigue
Orange
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Therblings

17. •SIMO = SImultaneous MOtion Chart
•Recording technique for Micro Motion study
•Simultaneous motions are filmed and recorded on a common
time scale and analyzed
•Therblings performed by different parts of body of one or more
operators recorded
•Expensive equipments required
• used when saving from study is high
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18. THANK YOU