PRODUCTION AND

OPERATIONS
MANAGEMENT

DESIGN OF WORK SYSTEMS

Work Study-Method Study and Work

Measurement
Methods engineering includes work simplification, job
design, value analysis and the like.
Work study method was developed to improve performance
of a given work.
Work study is the body of knowledge concerned with
analysis of the work methods, and the standard of proposed
work methods.
Objective of work study is to improve operational
efficiency.
The purpose of work study is to determine the best or most
effective method of accomplishing a necessary operation.

Relationship of Time and Motion

Study to Work Study
Time study and motion study are results of
practices developed by F.W. Taylor, Frank and
Lillian Gilbreth.
Time study: Exercising control over the output in
respect of a job by setting standards
for
performance.
Time study may be used to compare the
effectiveness of alternative work methods.

Steps Involved in Work Study

Method Study or Methods Analysis

Method study is also known as methods
improvement.
Prime objectives of method study is to eliminate
wasteful and inefficient motions.

Method Study Procedure

Method study procedure involves six steps.
Select
Record
Examine
Develop
Install
Maintain

Recording Techniques Used in

Method Study
Process Charts used in Method Study
1. Outline process chart
2. Operation process chart
3. Flow process charts
4. Two handed process chart
5. Multiple activity chart
6. The man machine chart or worker-machine chart
7. Flow diagram
8. String diagram
9. SIMO chart

Motion Study
Motion study is the science of eliminating
wastefulness resulting from using unnecessary; illdirected and inefficient motion. The aim of motion
study is to find and perpetuate the scheme of least
waste methods of labour.
Micro motion study provides a valuable technique
for making minute analysis of those operations that
are short in cycle, contain rapid movements and
involve high production over a long period of time.
Micro-motions are also known as Therbligs.

Examples of Therbligs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Search (Sr)
Select (St)
Grasp (G)
Transport empty
(TE)
Transport loaded
(TL)
Hold (H)
Release load (RL)
Position (P)
Pre-position (PP)
Inspect (I)

11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.

Assemble (A)
Disassemble (DA)
Use (U)
Unavoidable delay (UD)
Avoidable delay (AD)
Plan (Pn)
Rest for overcoming fatigue
(R)
18. Find (F)

Principles of Motion Economy

Principles of motion economy are divided into
three groups.
a. Effective use of the operator
b. Arrangement of the workplace
c. Tools and equipment

Qualified Worker
"A qualified worker is one who is accepted as having the
necessary physical attributes, possessing the required
intelligence and education and having acquired the
necessary skill and knowledge to carry out the work in
hand to satisfactory standards of safety, quantity and
quality"

Techniques of Work Measurement

The main techniques used to measure work are:
1. Direct Time Study.
2. Synthesis Method.
3. Analytical Estimating.
4. Pre determined Motion Time System (PMTS).
5. Work sampling or Activity Sampling or Ratio
Delay Method.

Steps in Work Measurement

Work measurement involves seven steps.
1. Break the job into elements
2. Record the observed time for each element by means of either time
study, synthesis or analytical estimating.
3. Establish elemental time values by extending observed time into
normal time for each element by applying a rating factor.
4. Assess relaxation allowance for personal needs and physical and
mental fatigue involved in carrying out each element.
5. Add the relaxation allowance time to the normal time for each
element to arrive at the work content.
6. Determine the frequency of occurrences of each element in the job,
multiply the work content of each element by its frequency (i.e.,
number of time the element occurs in the job) and add up the times
to arrive at the work content for the job.
7. Add contingency allowance if any to arrive at the standard time to
do the job.

1. TIME STUDY
Time study is concerned with the determination of the
amount of time required to perform a unit of work.
Objective of time study is to establish the standard time.
Time study by stop watch: The steps involved are
1. Select the job to be studied
2. Select the worker to be studied
3. Conducting stop watch time study

2. SYNTHESIS METHOD
Synthesis Method: Building up the time required to do a
job at a defined level of performance.
3. ANALYTICAL ESTIMATING
Analytical Estimating: Used to determine the time values
for jobs having long and non-repetitive operations.
4. PREDETERMINED MOTION TIME SYSTEM (PMTS)
PMTS: Normal times are established for basic human
motions.
5. WORK SAMPLING OR ACTIVITY SAMPLING OR
RATIO-DELAY METHOD
Work sampling helps determine allowances for inclusion
in standard times.

The work sampling study consists of essentially the following steps:

1. Determine the objective of the study, including definitions of the states
of activity to be observed.
2. Plan the sampling procedure including:
(a) An estimate of the percentage of time being devoted to each
phase of the activity.
(b) The setting of accuracy limits.
(c) An estimation of the number of observations required.
(d) The selection of the length of the study period and the
programming of the number of readings over this period.
(e) The establishment of the mechanics of making the
observations, the route to follow and the recording of data.
3. Collect the data as planned.
4. Process the data and present the results.

Productivity and Employees

Production refers to the total output.
Productivity: The amount of goods and services
produced with resources used.

 Partial productivity: Output in a given period divided

by labors hours used in the period.
Partial productivity =

Output in a given period

Labour hours used in the period
Output in a given period

Total productivity =
Labour + Capital + Materials + Energy used
in the same period

 Labour Productivity
There are three ways of measuring labour
productivity.
Ways of Improving Productivity
Understanding the factors that influence the
relationship between output and input.