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Work Study
Module 7
Introduction to Work Study
Work Measurement
Method Study Work Measurement

To simplify the job

and develop more To determine how long
economical methods should it take to carry out
of doing it
Source: Kanawaty, G(ed.) (1992). Introduction to Work Study . Geneva International Labour Office. p20

Methods Study and the selection

Recording the facts
of jobs

• Methods Study is the systematic recording and • The most commonly used of these recording
critical examination of ways of doing things in order techniques are charts and diagrams. These charts fall
to make improvements. in two groups:
• It has eight steps: – Those which are used to record a process sequence, i.e. a
1. Select 6. Define series of events or happenings in the order in which they
occur, but which do not depict the events to scale and;
2. Record 7. Install
– Those which record events, also in sequence, but on a
3. Examine 8. Maintain time scale so that the interaction of related events may be
4. Develop more easily studied.
5. Evaluate
Source: Kanawaty, G(ed.) (1992). Introduction to Work Study . Geneva International Labour Office. p75 Source: Kanawaty, G(ed.) (1992). Introduction to Work Study . Geneva International Labour Office. p81

Recording the facts

• Diagrams are used to indicate movement and/or

interrelationships of movements more clearly than
charts do. They usually do not show all the
information recorded on charts, which they
supplement rather than replace.

Source: Kanawaty, G(ed.) (1992). Introduction to Work Study . Geneva International Labour Office. p82

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Work Measurement Purpose of Work Measurement

• It is the application of techniques designed to • It reveals the existence of ineffective time;

establish the time for a qualified worker to carry out
• It can be used to set standard times for
a task at a defined rate of working
carrying out the work
• In contrast with method study which is the principal
technique for reducing the work involved by
eliminating unnecessary movement on the part of
material or operatives, work measurement is
concerned with investigating, reducing, and
subsequently eliminating ineffective time.
Source: Kanawaty, G(ed.) (1992). Introduction to Work Study . Geneva International Labour Office. Source: Kanawaty, G(ed.) (1992). Introduction to Work Study . Geneva International Labour Office.
p245 p244

Uses of Work Measurement Uses of Work Measurement

• To compare the efficiency of alternative methods
• To balance the work of members of teams, is association
with multiple activity charts, so that, as nearly as
possible, each member has a task taking an equal time to
perform
• To determine in association with worker and machine
multiple activity charts, the number of machines an
operative can run
• To provide the basis for production planning and control
Source: Kanawaty, G(ed.) (1992). Introduction to Work Study . Geneva International Labour Office.
p246
• To provide information that can enable estimates to be
made for tenders, selling process and delivery dates
• To set standards of machine utilization and labor
performance
• To provide information for labor-cost control and to
enable standard costs to be fixed and maintained.
Source: Kanawaty, G(ed.) (1992). Introduction to Work Study . Geneva International Labour Office.
p246

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Basic Procedure of Basic Procedure of

Work Measurement Work Measurement

1. SELECT the work to be studied 4. MEASURE the quantity of work involved in each
2. RECORD all relevant data relating to the circumstances element, in terms of time, using the appropriate work
in which the work is being done, the methods and the measurement technique
elements of activity in them 5. COMPILE the standard time for the operation, which in
3. EXAMINE the recorded data and the detailed the case of stop-watch time study will include time
breakdown critically to ensure that the most effective allowances to cover relaxation, personal needs, etc.
method and motions are being used and that 6. DEFINE precisely the series of activities and method of
unproductive and foreign elements are separated from operation for which the time has been compiled and
productive elements issue the time as standard for the activities and
methods specified
Source: Kanawaty, G(ed.) (1992). Introduction to Work Study . Geneva International Labour Office. Source: Kanawaty, G(ed.) (1992). Introduction to Work Study . Geneva International Labour Office.
p247 p247

Work Measurement and

Work Measurement Techniques
Time Study

• The terms work measurement and time study are • Direct Time Study
often used interchangeably. It involves direct observation of a task using a stopwatch or
other chronometric device to record the time taken to
• Both are concerned with how much time it should
accomplish the task.
take to complete a unit of work.
• Work measurement refers to a set of four • Predetermined Motion Time Systems
techniques that are concerned with the evaluation of It relies on a database of basic motion elements such as
a task in terms of the time that should be allowed for reach, grasp, and move that are common to nearly all
an average human worker to perform that task manual industrial tasks.

Source: Groover, Mikell P. (2007). Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and the Source: Groover, Mikell P. (2007). Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and the
Management of Work . Pearson-Prentice Hall. p319 Management of Work . Pearson-Prentice Hall. p324

Work Measurement Techniques Time Study

• Standard data systems • It is a work measurement technique for recording the times of
It is a compilation of normal time values for work elements performing a certain specific job or its elements carried out
used in tasks that are performed in a given facility under specified conditions, and for analyzing the data so as to
obtain the time necessary for an operator to carry out at a
• Work Sampling defined rate of performance.
It uses random sampling techniques to study work situations
so that the proportions of time spent in different activities
can be estimated with a defined degree of statistical
accuracy

Source: Groover, Mikell P. (2007). Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and the Source: Kanawaty, G (ed). (1992). Introduction to Work Study . Geneva International Labour Office.
Management of Work . Pearson-Prentice Hall. p325 p265

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Time Study The Stopwatch

• Equipment: Stop watch

• Stop watch
Electronic Mechanical
• Study board
• Time study forms Stand alone Electronic Flyback Split-hand
Stop watch Study board
Non- Flyback

Source: Kanawaty, G (ed). (1992). Introduction to Work Study . Geneva International Labour Office. Source: Kanawaty, G (ed). (1992). Introduction to Work Study . Geneva International Labour Office.
p265 p266

The Study Board

• It is simply a flat board, usually of plywood or

suitable plastic sheet, needed for placing the time
study forms. It should be rigid and larger than the
largest form likely to be used.

Source: Kanawaty, G (ed). (1992). Introduction to Work Study . Geneva International Labour Office.
p267

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Time Study forms

• There are numerous designs of forms; most work

study practitioners have their own ideas on the ideal
layout.

Source: Kanawaty, G (ed). (1992). Introduction to Work Study . Geneva International Labour Office.
p271

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