Dr.

Anita Singh
METHODS OF WORK
MEASUREMENT
1. Historical data method
Historical data method uses the past-performance
data. Here, past performance is used as a guideline for
setting work performance standards. The main
advantage of this technique is that it is simple to
understand, quicker to estimate and easier to
implement. However, past performance is not the best
basis for fixing performance standards. This is because
there may be many changes in technology, employees’
behavior, abilities, etc
METHODS OF WORK
MEASUREMENT
2. Time study :
This is the most commonly used work measurement
method and is done with the help of Stop Watch. This
technique was developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor
(1856-1915). Time study is best suited for short-cycle
repetitive jobs. Most of the production jobs can be
easily timed by a time-study.
METHODS OF WORK
MEASUREMENT
Time study procedure consists of the following steps:
 Select the job to be timed.
 Standardize the method of doing the job.
 Select the worker to be studied.
 Record the necessary details of the job and conditions of
work.
 Divide the job into elements. Here, ’element’ is a part of
the job.
 Find out the time taken to do every single element. Keep
provisions for relaxation, etc.
 Fix the standard time for doing the job
METHODS OF WORK
MEASUREMENT
3. Work sampling
Work sampling method was original developed by
Leonard Henry Caleb Tippett (1902-1985) in Britain in
1934. In this technique, the workers are observed many
times at random. It is done to find out for how much
time the worker is actually on the job. It checks how
long he is working and how much time he is not
working (idle time). Work sampling method does not
involve stop watch measurement.
The purpose of work sampling technique is to estimate what
proportion of a worker’s time is devoted to work-related
activities.
Work sampling method involves following three main steps:
 Deciding what activities are defined as ’working’. Non-
working are those activities which are not defined as
working.
 Observe the worker at selected intervals and record (write
down) whether he is working or not. Calculate the portion
of time (P), a worker is working.
 A portion of time (P) a worker is working equals to
’Number of observations during which working occurred’
divided by ’Total Number of observations.’ The above
calculation is used as a performance standard
 Advantages of Work Sampling

The benefits or advantages of work sampling method are as follows:

 Work sampling gives an unbiased result since workmen are not
under close observation.
 A work sampling study may be interrupted at any time without
affecting the results.
 Work sampling can be conducted by anyone with limited training.
 There is no need to have experts.
 Team work can be studied by work sampling and not by the time-
study.
 Work sampling is economical and less time-consuming than time
study. This is because more than one worker can be studied at the
same time
 Disadvantages of Work Sampling
The limitations or disadvantages of work sampling method are as
follows:
 Work sampling is not economical for short cycle jobs. It is also
uneconomical to study a single worker or even small group of
workers. Unlike time study, it does not allow a small breakdown of
activities and delays.
 Working men may change their normal method of working when
they see an observer. Therefore, the results from the work study
may not be accurate.
 In work sampling method, the observations are limited or
insufficient. So, the results may not be accurate.
 This method normally does not record the workers' speed of
working.
 METHODS OF WORK
MEASUREMENT
4. Synthesis method
 In synthesis method, the full job is first divided into elements
(parts). Then the time taken to do each element of the job is
found out and synthesized (totaled). This gives the total time
taken for doing the full job.
 In this technique, the time taken to do each element of the job
is found out from previous time studies. So, this technique
gives importance to past-time studies of similar jobs. It also
uses standard data.
 Standard-data is the normal time taken for doing routine jobs.
Standard data is easily available for routine-jobs like fitting
screws, drilling holes, etc. So there is no need of calculating
these times repeatedly. Most companies use Standard-data.
They do not waste time doing studies for all elements of the
job. This is because standard time is already available for most
elements of a job
example
a job of publishing a book contains four elements viz;
typing, editing, printing and binding. The time taken
for doing each element is first found out.
 Suppose, typing takes 40 days, editing takes 30 days;
printing takes 20 days and binding takes 10 days. Then
the time taken to do all the elements are totaled. That
is, it takes 40 + 30 + 20 + 10 = 100 days to publish a
book. This information is taken from previous time
studies of other printing jobs or from the standard
data.
 Synthesis technique also considers the level of
performance. Level of performance refers to the speed
of performance, which is either, normal, fast, or very-
fast.
benefits
 It provides reliable information about standard time
for doing different jobs. This is because it is based on
many past time studies.
 It is economical because there is no need to conduct
new time studies.
5. Predetermined motion time
system
 In Predetermined Motion Time System’ method or
simply PMTS technique, the normal times are fixed for
basic human motions.
 These time values are used to fix the time required for
doing a job. Normally, three times are fixed for one job.
That is, one time is fixed for each level of performance.
 The level of performance may be normal, fast and
very-fast. PTMS is better than motion studies because
it gives the detailed analysis of the motion, and it fixes
the standard time for doing that motion. PTMS
technique is used mostly for jobs, which are planned
for future. However, it can also be used for current jobs
as an alternative to time study
benefits or advantages of PMTS
method
 It is a very accurate method.
 It avoids subjective judgment or bias of rater.
 It is an effective and economical method for repetitive
jobs of short duration.
 There is no interference in the normal work routine,
and so it does not face any resistance from the
employees.
 It helps to improve the work methods because it gives
a detailed analysis of the motions.
 It is more economical and fast compared to normal
time studies.
6. Analytical estimating
 Analytical estimating method or technique is used for
fixing the standard time for jobs, which are very long
and repetitive. The standard-time is fixed by using
standard-data. However, if standard data is not
available, then the standard time is fixed based on the
experience of the work-study engineer
Advantages & Disadvantages
• It helps in planning and scheduling the production
activities
• It provides a basis for fixing labor rate for non-
repetitive jobs
• It is economical because it uses standard data for
fixing the standard time of each job.
disadvantage of analytical estimating method:
• When standard-data is not available for a job, then the
standard time is fixed by the work-study engineer. He
uses his experience and judgment for estimating the
standard-time. This is not accurate compared to a
scientific time study
Introduction
Ergonomics
“The scientific discipline concerned with
understanding of interactions among humans and
other elements of a system, and the profession
that applies theory, principles, methods and data
to design in order to optimize human well-being
and overall system performance”
Introduction
Ergonomics means
“fitting the job to the worker,”
including:
 Work stations
 Tools
 Equipment

Ergo = Work
Nomos = Law
Introduction
Why is ergonomics important?
 Overexertion leading cause of injuries
 Most costly
 Recurring/Persistent pain may develop in
future
 Bodily reaction is another leading cause of
injuries in workplace
 Repetitive motion also within top 10 most
common workplace injuries
Ergonomic Control Methods
 Examples of engineering controls
 Work station design and setup
 Ergonomically designed tools
 Ergonomically designed equipment
 Load weight reduction

Source: OSHA (International Labor Organization)