WORK STUDY
Introduction, Definition,
Objectives, Importance,
Components.
WORK STUDY.
It’sa Mgt tool to achieve higher efficiency.
Concerned primarily with manual work
Any industry to survive, must use latest
technology & most efficient method
improvised with a consistent aim of
producing best quality goods at lower
prices.
One way to improve is by efficient use of
plant, equipment and Labor.
WORK STUDY.
Work study is simply study of work.
It is analysis of work dividing it into smaller
parts followed by rearrangement of these
parts to give the same effectiveness at a
lesser cost.
Work study examines both the method and
duration of the work involved in the process.
Robert Owen, Taylor and Bedeaux gave their
contributions to this topic.
Definitions.
Work Study is primarily concerned
with discovering the best ways of
doing the job and establishing
standards based on such methods.
Work study is the technique of
Method study and work
measurement employed to ensure
the best possible use of human and
material resources in carrying out
a specified activity. -ILO
Definitions.
Work study can be defined as the
analytic investigation of the
methods, conditions and
effectiveness of industrial work
and thereby the determination of
the ways in which human efforts
may most economically be
applied.
Objectives of Work-Study
Primary function of work study is to increase
the productivity and reduce the waste. So it
should be capable :-
2. Investigate and analyze the situation.
3. Examination of weakness in production pro
4. Most efficient use of existing plant.
5. To recommend & implement d improvement
Objectives of Work-Study
1. Efficient use of human efforts.
2. Measurement of work values.
3. Set standards for labor cost control.
4. Initiate & maintain incentive bonus schemes
5. To standardize material and machines used
6. Determine the time required by an ideal
operator to perform the task with efficiency.
IMPORTANCE
1. It is a mean of raising the productivity of a factory
by reorganization of work involving little or no
capital expenditure.
2. Systematic study where no factor of production is
overlooked.
3. Most accurate method of determining standards of
performance.
4. Results in saving and efficient use of resources.
5. Results in improved safety.
6. Reduction in training time.
7. It can be applied everywhere.
COMPONENTS of WORK STUDY.
2. Method Study
3. Work Measurement.
4. Ergonomics.
5. Job-Evaluation.
(Financial and Non-Financial)
Method Study
Method study is systematic recording, critical
analysis, development and implementation of
new methods to perform job to reduce costs
with regards to existing or proposed jobs.
It may also be called as MOTION STUDY, as
it deals with the movement of goods and the
activities & events in the transformational
process.
Method Study
Method study is examination of work performance
and its subsequent rearrangement to produce the
same results with less efforts.
Work performance depends on number of
interrelated operations and activities. Any
combination of these activities is called as Method.
The function of method analyst is to study the way in
which the level of performance would increase
resulting in minimization of effort and cost for same
or better output.
Indicators of Method Study.
Some common indicators, which show that
there is a necessity of method study in Org.
2. Bottlenecks in system resulting in long
delivery time and unbalanced work flow.
3. Idle time of plant or Labor.
4. Higher absenteeism & poor moral of worker
5. Inconsistency in sales and earning.
Technique of Method Study.
1. Selection of job to be studied.
2. Collection, recording and presentation of
necessary information.
3. Analysis of existing methods.
4. Develop the new method.
5. Install the new method.
6. Maintain the new method.
Charts for Method Study
Production order and method study are generally
displayed in charts.
Process charts
It is a diagrammatic representation of sequence
or order of operations from start to finish.
It uses various symbols to represent multiple
activities
They are generally not drawn to scale.
The symbols are drawn in vertical columns
according to their sequence and description is
given.
Process Charts
SYMBOLS used in process charts.
1. It represents a broad category of
operations executed during a production
process.
2. Operation occurs when an object changes
its properties physically or chemically.
Operation 3. Small alphabets are written inside the
circle to denote a specific operation.
SYMBOLS used in process charts.
It represents an inspection during a
production process.
The object is examined for its verification
Inspection with required quality & other characteristic.
1. It represents a movement during a
production process.
2. It shows the flow/movement of men,
Movement material and document from 1 place to
other
SYMBOLS used in process charts.
It represents a storage during a
production process, protected against
unauthorized removal.
Distinction can be made between
Storage permanent and temporary storage by
writing TS or PS in diagram.
1. It represents a delay during a production
process.
Delay 2. It occurs when immediate performance of
next planned step cannot be taken.
Types of Process charts
1. Outline process charts.
It mainly shows operation, inspections and
entering point of materials.
Operations and inspections are numbered
separately for every occurrence.
Description is given adjacent to the process
in the sequence.
Let’s see an example.
Types of Process charts
1. Flow process charts.
It is improved version of outline chart, as it
has more detailed description.
These chart also include information on
storage, delay and transportation activities.
The flow process chart can be further
subdivided into 3 types i) Material type,
ii) Men type, and iii) Machine type.
Lets see and example on board.
Types of Process charts
1. Two-Handed process charts.
It is chart which helps to study an activity
performed by both the hands or limbs.
It is done to explore the possibility of
improvement if any.
For ex. Activities performed by an operator
in packing of match boxes into corrugated
boxes and its sealing with both hands
Types of Process charts
1. Multiple Activity Chart.
Men and machine simultaneously perform many
operations. And Multiple activity chart helps to
analyze and evaluate these activities.
It helps to get valuable information regarding
utilization and present the voluminous and
haphazardly placed data in presentable form.
It shows busy and idle times of Men and Machines.
Which in turn helps rescheduling.
These charts provide basis for work measurement
and operational analysis.
Types of Process charts
Multiple Activity Chart. (contd..)
Technically speaking, it is graphical
representation of combined activities of man
and machine.
It gives the details of situation where both
work independently or jointly, and also
where one or both are idle.
Symbols used in Activity Chart.
Blank rectangle or space is used to show that one of
the two, i.e. Man or machine is idle.
Rectangle with horizontal lines shows that man is
working alone and machine is idle or working.
Rectangle with horizontal & vertical lines shows that
machine is working alone and men are idle or
working.
Rectangle with slant lines shows that man and
machine are working together.
Some Special Charts
1. Relationship Chart
2. String Diagram
3. Simultaneous Motion charts
4. Memeo Motion Photography.
Now lets see what is Work Measurement.
Time Study/ Work Measurement
Work measurement is identified as a scientific
method of fixing standard of production or standard
time for a given job.
To manage, one must measure first.
Work measurement means the application of a set
of techniques intended to establish the
i. Amount of work to be done by an operator
ii. At a given time
iii. Under a specific condition and
iv. At defined level of performance.
Time Study/ Work Measurement
Work measurement can be done by following
either of 2 things.
A. Direct time study A. Indirect time study
1. Stop watch 1. Synthetic timing
approach. data.
2. Work sampling. 2. Pre-determined
3. Analytic estimation. time and motion
study.
Steps in Work Measurement
Selection:- As it follows the method study,
the selection process is already done. But it
should eliminate the inferior methods, as it
won’t justify the cost & efforts involved.
Obtain the necessary information. In
terms of worker, machines, material, quality,
standards, layout etc.
Steps in Work Measurement
Divide the job into elements. The division
of jobs is necessary for the following
reasons.
1. Provide better understanding.
2. Break the study into manageable size.
3. Workers efficiency thorough out job.
4. Distinguish between various parts.
5. Isolate man and machines.
Steps in Work Measurement
Time the elements. Stop watch is generally
used in the system. Either of continuous or
Fly-back method is used for recording time.
The number of cycles to be timed. There
should be sufficient readings to get
reasonably accurate results. It depends on
1. Variation in times of element.
2. Degree of accuracy required.
3. Prescribed level of confidence.
Steps in Work Measurement
Rating of operator.
Objective rating. Here emphasis is laid on
speed and difficulty experienced in
performing a job. At first operator is rated on
normal speed and movement. Then other
factors are considered.
Allowances.
