Lecture 3
WORK STUDY
FAHIM
IPE, MPE, AUST
Work Study
Work study refers to the techniques which
are employed to ensure the best possible use
of human, machine and material resources
in carrying out a specified activity. The
objective of this study has three aspects:
The most effective use of plant and
equipment
The most effective use of human effort
The evaluation of human work
Work Study (cont…)
Work study is to be done to optimize the work time and increase productivity. Two types of work
study are to be done.
i. Method Study:
It is concerned with finding the facts about the working condition and situation and after critical examination by the
experts, developing a new and better method of doing the work.
ii. Time Study:
It is concerned with the establishment of time standards for a qualified worker to perform a specified job at a defined
level of performance.
Work Study (cont…)
How many jobs to be performed by a work during a specified time period?
If the workers produce jobs at the standard rate, they should be paid at the standard rate. Depending on whether
they perform below or above standard rate, their payment should be adjusted accordingly.
Work Study (cont…)
Steps to calculate standard time:
1. Define the task to be studied
2. Apply method study so the operation can be completed in the best possible way
3. Divide the task into element
4. Record the time for each element
(Performance rating for each element should be determined by experts)
5. Calculate normal time for each element:
Normal Time (NT) = Average observed cycle time X performance rating factor
6. Add the normal time for each element to compute the normal time for the entire task
Work Study (cont…)
Steps to calculate standard time:
7. Compute standard time (ST):Allowance factor is calculated considering
a. Fatigue b. Personal Factor c. Unavoidable delay
Day Allowance AFday
𝑁𝑇 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑘
ST =
1−𝐴𝐹𝑑𝑎𝑦
REST ALLOWANCES
▶ Personal time allowance
▶ 4% - 7% of total time for use of restroom, water
fountain, etc.
▶ Delay allowance
▶ Based upon actual delays that occur
▶ Fatigue allowance
▶ Based on human energy expenditure under
various physical and environmental conditions
Work Study (cont…)
Work Study (cont…)
Steps to compute standard time
1. Delete the unusual observation from each element (Observations 4,5 of A and 3 of C are
deleted due to unusual timing!)
2. Compute average cycle time for each element:
Average time for A = 9 mins
Average time for B = 2.2 mins
Average time for C = 1.5 mins
Work Study (cont…)
3. Compute NT for each job element:
NT for A = 9 x 1.2 = 10.8 min
NT for B = 2.2 x 1.05 = 2.31 min
NT for C = 1.5 x 1.1 = 1.65 min
4. Total normal time (NT) = 14.76 min
5. Standard Time (ST)
Considering 15% allowance factor
ST = (Total NT)/(1-Allowance factor)
= 14.76/(1-0.15)
= 17.36 min