WORK STUDY
WORK STUDY is defined as “a generic term for those
techniques, particularly METHOD STUDY and WORK
MEASUREMENT, which are used in the examination of
human work in all its context, and which systematically
lead to the investigation of all factors which affect the
efficiency and economy of the situation being reviewed,
in order to effect improvement”.
Work study is a management technique to increase
productivity by the application of the detailed analysis
and critical examination of any work.
Work Study consists of two broad division :
1) Work Simplification or Method Study
2)Work Measurement or Time study
Fundamental objective of work study is to obtain the
optimum use of human and material resources
available with an organisation for economical
production
This can be achieved by :
1) The most effective use of plant and equipment
2) The most effective use of human efforts
3) Evaluation of human work
4) Selection and training of personnel.
The first two part of the above factors are a subject of
Method Study, whereas the remaining two are part of
Work Measurement.
The main objective of method study is to improve
and standardise methods of manufacture.
Work measurement on the other hand aims at
increased production by training persons and
motivating them by implementing incentive schemes.
Method Study :
“Method study is the systematic recording and
critical examination of existing and proposed ways
of doing work, as a means of developing and
applying easier and more effective methods and
reducing costs”.
Thus method study is concerned with the reduction
of WORK CONTENT of a job or operation.
Work Measurement :
“Work Measurement is the application of techniques
designed to establish the TIME for a QUALIFIED worker to
carry out a specified job at a defined level of performance”.
Work measurement is mostly concerned with the
investigation and reduction of any ineffective time
associated with it, and with the subsequent establishment
of time standards for the operation when carried out in the
improved fashion, as determined by method study.
Work measurement is applied only after the method
study has been conducted.
Work measurement may precede method study,
whenever the basis of conducting method study is not
apparent a priority, in such cases, work measurement
results may call for a method study by focussing on the
ineffective time.
Work study technique usually contributes towards
increasing productivity with little or no CAPITAL
EXPENDITURE.
Method Study :
“Method study is the systematic recording and critical
examination of existing and proposed ways of doing
work, as a means of developing and applying easier and
more effective methods and reducing costs”.
The main objective of method study is to study the
existing and proposed methods of working, analyze and
critically examine them and suggest modifications in the
design or manufacturing process so that one or more of
the following may be attained.
• Men, materials and machines are utilized effectively.
• Most efficient and economic method of manufacturing is
developed.
• The process, machine tools and equipments chosen are
appropriate.
• The layout is modified to reduce material movements on the
shop floor and avoid bottle-necks in production.
• The workstations are suitably developed for better physical
environments and
• The human efforts are economized resulting in reduced
fatigue and increased output.
Selection of a job for work simplification :
Selection of a job for work simplification should be based
on the consideration of the following factors.
Economic consideration:
Jobs which are temporary in nature, lasting for a short
duration, and having few persons working on it should not
be selected.
Jobs lasting over longer periods and involving many
persons should be preferred for work simplification study.
E.g. Assembly of watches, clocks, transistors, telephones
etc.
Saving, resulting from work simplification
programme should be more than the money spent
in carrying out the programme.
Attack should be done first on
- Bottle-neck process
- Movement of material
- Operations involving repetitive work
Design Consideration:
At design stage, attempt should be made to check
whether cheaper materials could be substituted for
expensive ones, and indigenous materials
substituted for imported ones, keeping in view the
quality, strength, performance and possible service
life of the product.
Select the most efficient and practical process of
manufacture commensurate with the function of
the part.
Production Consideration:
Many improvement can be made by work study men on shop
floor which give immediate results.
Some of the factors to be considered are:
Select the right machine tool for every operation
Use correct feeds, speeds and depths of cut, use appropriate
coolant if required
Check machine and equipment layout in order to reduce
distance travelled by men and materials during process of
manufacture.
Reduce idle machine hours by reallocation of jobs and
machines, thus increasing machine utilization factor.
Use effectively the human and material resources.
Economies the materials by reducing waste.
Human consideration:
Before concluding the preliminary search for improvement
programme, the work study personnel have to take care of
the following added responsibilities. They have to see that:
Proper working environment is provided.
Steps are taken to uplift the worker’s moral by way
of regular payments and job security.
Enthusiasm and moral of the staff are kept up by
implementing incentive schemes. This would
improve their regularity and punctuality.
The safety precautions should be strictly adhered
to, thus reducing number of accidents and loss of
man and machine hours to a considerable extent.