Work Study

2. Definitions
 Work study is a generic term for those
techniques particularly ‘Method Study’
and ‘Work Measurement’ which are
used in the examination of human
work in all its contexts and which lead
systematically to the investigation of
all the factors which effect the
efficiency of the situation being
reviewed, in order to seek
improvements.

3. Method study
It may be defined as the systematic
investigation (i.e recording and critical
examination) of the existing method of
doing a job in order to develop and
install an easy, rapid, efficient,
effective and less fatiguing procedure
for doing the same job and at lower
costs.

4. Work Measurement
It is the application of different
techniques to measure and establish
the time required to complete the job
by a qualified worker at a defined level
of performance.

5. Advantages of Work Study
 Uniform and improved production flow
 Higher productive efficiency
 Reduced manufacturing costs
 Fast and accurate delivery dates
 Better employee-employer relations
 Better service to customers
 Job security and job satisfaction
 Better working and other conditions
 Higher wages to workers

6. Advantages of Method Study
 Improved working and standardized procedures.
 Better work place layout
 Less fatigue to operators.
 Better product quality
 Effective utilization of men, material & machinery
 Efficient and fast material handling.
 Reduced health hazards
 Efficient planning of the section
 Streamlined working procedures

7. Work Measurement
 Determines the time required to do a job
 Decides manpower to do a job
 Decides equipment requirement
 Provides information for effective PPC
 Aids in calculating exact delivery dates
 Decides realistic labor budgeting and provides
a basis for standard costing system
 Provides a basis for fair and sound incentive
schemes
 Results in effective labor control

8. Steps in work study components
 Method Study
*Select the task to be studied
*Collection, recording and presentation
of facts
*Analyze the facts
*Develop the new methods
*Install the new methods
*Maintain the methods.

9. Method study
 Select job/process to be examined &
observe current performance
 high process cost, bottlenecks, tortuous
route, low productivity, erratic quality
 Record & document facts
 activities performed
 operators involved - how etc
 equipment and tools used
 materials processed or moved
 apply critical examination - challenge job
components & necessity (purpose, place,
sequence, method).
 develop alternative methods & present
proposals
 document as base for new work system
 Install, monitor (slippage) & maintain

10. Steps in work study components
 Work Measurement
*Select Task to be studied
*Record the facts
*Analyze the facts
*Measure the Tasks
*Define the method and related time
*Maintain the work

11. A Time Study
 select job & identify the work tasks
 check the method - is it efficient/agreed?
 start a Time Study sheet & break work task into "units"
 several times with a stop watch & for a sample of workers, time
measure
 completion times for each unit of work in the job sequence
 average for each worker
 determine & apply worker effort rating for each worker (BSI scale)
 Apply fatigue, personal & other allowances
 From the observation data (worker average times) calculate
standard time for the task
 Assumes: set sequence, routine work cycle (all workers), little
discretion, 100% effort rating - trained/qualified,
motivated/committed, working at normal pace & not fatigued
 Fix standard time and enter into measured work manual/database