INSY 3021Time Study

Auburn UniversitySpring 2005

Establishment of Time Standards

Estimates Historical records Standards

Estimates

Original method Unfair due to variability among estimators Looking at a job and judging the amount of

the time needed

Historical Records

Based on the record of previously performed similar jobs

Measures time over entire job, with no consideration of delays

Better than estimates (or lack of a standard)

Time Study

Develops a time standard for performing a task

Measures work content, allows for fatigue, personal and unavoidable delays

Increases the efficiency of the equipment and personnel

“A Fair Days Work”

The amount of work that can be produced by a qualified employee when working at a normal pace and effectively utilizing their time where work is not restricted by process limitations

Responsibility

Notification Proper lubricants, materials, feeds & speeds,

knowledge of procedure Normal pace, no introduction of new

movements Union support

Equipment

Stopwatch Decimal minute watch – 100 divisions (.01

minute) Provides continuous or snapback timing Electronic watch – accuracy of .001 second

(600 times more accurate) Provides both continuous and snapback

timing

Equipment (con’t)

Computer-Assisted electronic stopwatches Video cameras Time study board Time study forms (TP) Training equipment

Time Study Elements

Watch operator for several cycles Break task down into fine elements Look for natural breakpoints using both sight

and sound Record elements in proper sequence Do not repeat identical elements

descriptions, just reference the previous #

Timing

Record only what is necessary to rebuild later (TP)

Snapback: Watch is reset after each breakpoint of an element

Continuous: Watch is allowed to run for the entire job being evaluated

Snapback Method

No clerical time needed to subtract from the previous observations as in continuous (TP)

Read and record Observed Time (OT) directly

Short element times are difficult to time Possible cycle time lost during the snapback

(N/A to electronic watch)

Continuous Method

Continuous: Watch is allowed to run for the entire job being evaluated

Presents a complete record for the entire observation period

All delays and foreign elements are recorded Clerical work required

Foreign Elements

Things that are external to the process that delay the work moving forward

Include: Supervisor interruptions, power losses, defective parts, leaving workstation, tool breakage, etc…

Occurring during an element, write A, B, C, etc…In the NT block (TP)

Missed Breakpoints

Immediately mark an “M” in the W column If operator omits an element, draw a dash

(-) through the applicable space in the W column

Number of Cycles to Record

Tabulated data (TP) Statistical methods

Ratings

Normalize the readings to the “average operator”

Can be for the entire element or individual cycles

NT=OT x R/100

Allowances

Typically about 15% Personal interruptions Fatigue Unavoidable delay Standard Time (ST) = NT (1 + allowance)

Study Calculations

Start time, Finish time, Elapsed time, Time elapsed before study (TEBS), Time elapsed after study (TEAS), Total check time, Effective time, Ineffective time, Unaccounted time, Recording error (should not exceed ~ 2%)

Questions & Comments