Time & Motion Study & PTMS (MMT)

1. WHAT IS TIME STUDY? In the previous chapter we listed the main techniques of work measurement. We now come to the most important of these techniques, namely time study.

Time study is a work measurement technique for recording the times and rates of working for the
elements of a specified job carried out under specified conditions, and for analysing the data so as to obtain the time necessary for carrying out the job at a defined level of performance.
2. BASIC TIME STUDY EQUIPMENT

In order to make time studies certain equipment is essential. Basic time study equipment consists of219
Time Study Equipment

a stopwatch; a study board; pencils; time study forms. This equipment the studyman will ned with him whenever he makes a time study. In addition there should be in the study officeslide rules; a reliable clock, with seconds hand; measuring instruments such as tape measure, steel rule, micrometer, spring balance, and tachometer (revolution counter). Other measuring

instruments may be useful, depending on the type of work being

studied. It is an advantage to have in the study office alsoan adding machine, or simple form of calculating machine The Stopwatch Two types of watch are in general use for time study, namely the flyback and the non-flyback types. A third typethe split-hand stopwatchis sometimes used.

These watches may be obtained with any one of three graduated scales Recording one minute per revolution by intervals of one-fifth of a second, with a small hand recording 30 minutes. Recording one minute per revolution calibrated in 1/lOOths of a
minute, with a small hand recording 30 minutes (the decimal-minute watch). Recording 1/100th of an hour per revolution graduated in 1 / 1 0,000ths

of an hour; a small hand records up to one hour in 100 divisions

(the decimal-hour watch). It is also possible to obtain watches with the main scale in decimal minutes and an auxiliary scale outside it, usually in red, graduated in seconds and fifths of a second. A flyback decimal minute stopwatchprobably the type in most general use todayis shown in figure 56. The hand of the small dial makes 1/30th of a revolution for each revolution of the main hand, and thus makes a complete turn every 30 minutes.
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Time Study Equipment

a stopwatch; a study board; pencils; time study forms. This equipment the studyman will ned with him whenever he makes a time study. In addition there should be in the study officeslide rules; a reliable clock, with seconds hand; measuring instruments such as tape measure, steel rule, micrometer, spring balance, and tachometer (revolution counter). Other measuring

instruments may be useful, depending on the type of work being

studied. It is an advantage to have in the study office alsoan adding machine, or simple form of calculating machine The Stopwatch Two types of watch are in general use for time study, namely the flyback and the non-flyback types. A third typethe split-hand stopwatchis sometimes used.

These watches may be obtained with any one of three graduated scales Recording one minute per revolution by intervals of one-fifth of a second, with a small hand recording 30 minutes. Recording one minute per revolution calibrated in 1/lOOths of a
minute, with a small hand recording 30 minutes (the decimal-minute watch). Recording 1/100th of an hour per revolution graduated in 1 / 1 0,000ths

of an hour; a small hand records up to one hour in 100 divisions

(the decimal-hour watch). It is also possible to obtain watches with the main scale in decimal minutes and an auxiliary scale outside it, usually in red, graduated in seconds and fifths of a second. A flyback decimal minute stopwatchprobably the type in most general use todayis shown in figure 56. The hand of the small dial makes 1/30th of a revolution for each revolution of the main hand, and thus makes a complete turn every 30 minutes.

on which to place the forms for recording time studies. It should be rigid and larger than the largest form likely to be used. It may have a fitting to hold the watch so that the hands of the work study man are left relatively free and the watch is in a position to be read easily. For right-handed people the watch is normally placed at the top of the board on the right-hand side so that the board may be rested on the left forearm with the bottom edge against the body and the forefinger or middle finger of the left hand used to press the winding knob when resetting the watch (see figure 57). Some work study men prefer to attach their watches with strong rubber bands or leather thongs around the two middle fingers of their left hands and to hold them at the top of the board in that way. It is largely a matter of individual preference, provided that the watch is securely held and can be easily read and manipulated. A strong spring clip should also be fitted to the board to hold the forms on which the study is recorded. A study board which is either too short for the studyman's arm, or too long, soon becomes tiring to use. Most studymen prefer therefore to have their own individual boards made up to fit their own arm lengths, once they have had sufficient

practice to know which size will be most comfortable. Pencils

3. TIME STUDY FORMS Studies can be made on plain paper, but it is a nuisance having to rule up new sheets every time a study is made. It is a great convenience to have printed forms of a standard size so that they can be filed neatly for reference, an essential feature

of well-conducted time study. Printedor cyclostyledforms also ensure that

time studies are always made in a standard manner and that no essential data are omitted. The number of different designs of time study forms is probably not far short of the number of work study departments in the world. Most experienced work study men have their own ideas on the ideal layout. The examples shown in this book represent designs which have been proved in practice to be satisfactory for general work. The principal forms used in time study fall into two groups: those used at the point of observation while actually making the study, and which should therefore be of a size to fit conveniently on the studyboard; and those which are used after the study has been taken, in the study office. Forms Used on the Study Board Time study top sheet: the top and introductory sheet of a study, on which is recorded all the essential information about the study, the elements into which the operation being studied has been broken down, and the break points used. It may also record the first few cycles of the study itself. The example shown in figure 58 has spaces in the heading for all the information normally required about a study except the sketch of the workplace layout, which should either be drawn on the reverse of the sheet, if the layout is very simple, or should be drawn on a separate sheet (preferably of squared paper) and attached to the study. Continuation sheet: for further cycles of the study. An example is shown in figure 59, from which it will be seen that the form consists only of the columns and space for the study and sheet number. It is usual to print this ruling on both sides of the paper; on the reverse side the heading is not necessary. These two forms are the ones most generally used. Together they are adequate for most general time study work. For the recording of short cycle repetitive operations, however, it is convenient to use instead a specially ruled form. Short cycle study form. Two examples of a short cycle form are illustrated. That in figure 60 shows a simple type of form which serves very well for most common short cycle work. The other, shown (front) in figure 61 and (reverse) in figure 62, is a more complicated form, adapted from one in general use in the United States, which may be