The Copperbelt University

School of Business
DEPARTMENT OF OPERATIONS AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Thursday 2nd October 2014

End of Term II Test

BSc in Purchasing and Supply Chain Management

BSc in Production Management

BSP 334: PRODUCTIVITY METHODS II

Time: 9hrs to 11hrs, Duration: 2hr

Instructions: There are only two (2) questions in this exam, answer all (80marks).

You are allowed to illustrate your arguments with relevant practical examples.

Calculators are allowed in this exam

Question One

NAMPACK Zambia-Ndola Works

The packing plant at NAMPACK Ndola works is one of the busiest sites of the company. There are all
sorts and sizes of packaging materials from numerous work stations all converging at the packing plant
for final works. The packing plant supervisor does not discriminate the labor at his plant and this implies
that there is a mix of skill and qualification.

However, the supervisor is concerned with one worker, a Mr. Peter Kalulu whose skill is average with a
first poor effort, poor conditions and consistency. The worker’s job does not need any personal time but
is very fatiguing, it is performed in an extremely noisy place while standing all shift long. The supervisor
clearly understands that all these variables are on the extreme side.

Despite these conditions, Mr. P. Kalulu spends only 3minutes on any of his operations. The supervisor
suspects that his worker spends about 68% of time productively within 5% error.

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Requirements

a) Using the application speed ratio from low to fast, classify and discuss the speed of work
measurement techniques. (10 Marks)
b) Calculate standard time at Mr. Kalulu’s station (5 Marks)
c) How many units can Mr. Kalulu pack per day? (5 Marks)
d) What is Mr. Kalulu’s standard time per piece (5 Marks)
e) Compare and discuss your results in (b) and (d) above (3 Marks)
f) How long will it take to service a demand of 10,000 units from Mr. Kalulu’s section?
(7
Marks)
g) How many employees should be employed in this section to meet the demand in 5 standard
working days? (5 Marks)
h) How many observations should the supervisor conduct to ascertain the actual time spent
productively by Mr. Kalulu at 90% confidence level (5 Marks)
i) Prepare an observation schedule for day one if 10 observations will be conducted per day
(clearly explain how you will arrive at your schedule) (5 Marks)

Question Two

GUD is an automotive part manufacturer with business operations across the globe. The company
manufactures standardised service parts compatible with many engine brands from Toyota to Nissan
and many other Japanese vehicles. A check at one of the factories revealed the following data
represented in table 2.1 below:

Observed Tine (min)/day

Element Skill Effort Condition Consistency
1 2 3 4 5

Parts Collection 5 4.8 5.1 8 5 Poor Excellent Good Good

Polishing 5.8 10 6.1 5.9 6 Poor Good Excellent Good
Part Alignment 3.2 3.1 3 3.2 3.1 Excellent Good Poor Poor
Assembly 10 7.2 6.8 6.8 7 Good Good Good Good
Testing 4 4.3 3.9 1 3.8 Average Excellent Good Poor
Allowances Liable Personal Fatigue
Note: All the grades are extreme

Requirements

a) What type of element is ‘Assembly’ (5 Marks)

b) Why should any job under time study be broken into elements? (5 Marks)
c) What standard time would you expect from this observation? (10 Marks)
d) Discuss the type of elements associated with parts collection, polishing and alignment
(5
Marks)

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e) Discuss the type of element associated with testing (5 Marks)

Information Tool Kit

N=4 p(100− p)/ A 2
where N=sample ¿ p=activity percentage , A=desired absolute accuracy

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Westinghouse Table for Performance Rating

- Means subtract from standard, + means add to standard

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