MOTION STUDY

INTRODUCTION

There can be several methods of performing an operation but the determination of the
best way of performing an operation is made possible by motion study. It is a study of the
movements of a worker or a machine in performing an operation for the purpose of
eliminating useless, ill directed and inefficient motions in order to improve productivity.
Motion study was developed by F.B. Gilbrith, an American management expert. Time study
is a direct and continuous observation of a task, using a timekeeping device (e.g., decimal
minute stopwatch, computer-assisted electronic stopwatch, and videotape camera) to record
the time taken to accomplish a task

MOTION STUDY

The definition given by him in his book Applied Motion Study is reproduced as
below; Motion study consists in dividing work into most fundamental elements possible ;
studying these elements separately and in relation to one another and from these studied
elements when timed, building methods of least waste. Mr. Gilbrith has proved that motion
study opens up great opportunities for time saving by eliminating wasteful motions and
making necessary motions less tiring.

For conducting motion study, workers are studied at their jobs and all their
movements and motions are noted. Each movement is known as therblig (Gilbrith spelt
backwards). Time spent on each therblig involved in an operation is collected by the use of a
stopwatch.

ADVANTAGES OF MOTION STUDY

The efficiency of workers is increased because they are asked to follow correct
methods, use proper tools and eliminate wasteful motions. Effective use of men
and machines is ensured.
It helps in simplifying the existing operations by laying down the best sequence of
essential operations. It leads to economy in labour and reduction of fatigue.

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ADVANTAGES OF TIME STUDY

The application of science to business problems, and the use of time-study methods
in standard setting and the planning of work, was pioneered by Frederick Winslow Taylor.
Taylor liaised with factory managers and from the success of these discussions wrote several
papers proposing the use of wage-contingent performance standards based on scientific time
study. At its most basic level time studies involved breaking down each job into component
parts, timing each part and rearranging the parts into the most efficient method of working.
By counting and calculating, Taylor wanted to transform management, which was essentially
an oral tradition, into a set of calculated and written techniques.

TIMEKEEPING AND METHODS OF TIMEKEEPING

Timekeeping is the process of tracking and reporting work and leave time. Following
are the two methods of time-keeping discussed in detail:

I. Manual Methods:

() Attendance Register Method, and (b) Metal Disc Method.

(a) Attendance Register Method:

It is the oldest method of recording time. Under this method, an attendance register
(also known as Muster Roll) is kept in the time office adjacent to the factory gate or in each
department for workers employed therein. The attendance register contains such columns as
the name of the worker, the workers number, the department in which he is working, the rate
of wages, the time of arrival and departure, normal time and overtime. The time of arrival and
departure may be noted down by an employee known as time-keeper. If the workers are
literate, they may make a record of time themselves in the presence of a time-keeper or
foreman. This method is simple and inexpensive and can be used in small firms where the
number of workers is not large. This method may lead to dishonest practice of recording
wrong time because there is possibility of collusion between some of the workers and the
time-keeper. However, for recording the time of workers who work at customers premises
and places which are situated at a distance from the factory, this may be the only suitable
method.

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(b) Metal Disc Method:

Under this method, each worker is allotted a metal disc or a token with a hole bearing
his identification number. A board is kept at the gate with pegs on it and all tokens are hung
on this board. These boards can be maintained separately for each department so that the
workers could remove their tokens from the board without undue delay. As the workers enter
the factory gate, they remove their respective discs or tokens and place them in a box or tray
kept near the board.

Immediately after the scheduled time for entering the factory, the box is removed and
the late comers will have to give their tokens to the time-keeper personally so that the exact
time of their arrival could be recorded. The discs or tokens still left on the board represent the
absentee workers. Later the time-keeper records the attendance in a register known as Daily
Muster Roll which is subsequently passed on to the Pay Roll Department. This method is
simple because illiterate workers can very easily recognize their tokens and put in the box.
This method is better than attendance register method and is useful when the number of
employees is not large.

But it has certain disadvantages of its own as given below:

There are chances that a worker may try to remove his companions token from
the board in order to get his presence marked when he is absent.

There are chances of disputes regarding the exact time of arrival of a worker
because the time-keeper marking the attendance can commit mistakes deliberately
or through carelessness. There is no authentic proof of the presence or absence of
the workers.

There are chances of inclusion of dummy or ghost workers by the time-keeper in

the attendance register or Daily Muster Roll.

Following are the causes of idle time:

Due to machine break down

Power failures
Waiting for instructions
Waiting for tools or raw materials to start the production

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 Economic Causes includes: Seasonal, cyclical or industrial nature.
Administrative decisions are also a big cause of idle time.

METHOD OVERTIME

Overtime is calculated based on the number of hours worked. Time off for vacation
and/ or sick leave, comp time, jury duty, and holidays are not considered hours worked.

Premium overtime (OTP) is time worked in excess of 40 hours in a workweek.

o For example if an employee works 42 hours in a workweek and does not

take any time off, the system will calculate 2 hours as premium overtime.

o Premium overtime is compensated at a rate of 1.5 times the employee's

hourly rate.

Straight overtime (OTS) is time worked in excess of an employee's regular

schedule up to 40 hours in a workweek.

o For example if an employee reports 42 hours in a workweek but takes a

day off as vacation during the week then the 2 hours will be calculated as
straight overtime because the hours worked did not exceed 40 hours
(employee worked 32 hours).

o Straight overtime is compensated the same as the employee's hourly rate.

Overtime by non-exempt employees must be approved in advance. An employee

is expected to seek advance approval for overtime work and to report overtime worked at the
time of a work-reporting period.

IDLE TIME

Idle time is unproductive time on the part of employees or machines as a result of

factors beyond their control. Idle time is the time associated with waiting, or when a piece of
machinery is not being used but could be. Idle time could also be associated with computing,
and in that case refers to processing time.

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METHOD OVERTIME

Method overtime calculates overtime for any hours worked in excess of 40 hours
in a workweek. A workweek for Non-Exempt employees is defined as 40 working hours
from Sunday to Saturday. Bargaining Unit agreements with a different overtime calculation
methods have not yet been programmed into Method overtime. In such cases, timekeepers
need to manually calculate the overtime hours in the application.

CONCLUSION

All motions are carefully studied to find out the motions which are very much needed
to perform operation. The purpose of such study is to determine the best way of performing
an operation involved in a job which every worker is supposed to follow. Motion study is also
known as Methods Study because it aims at finding out the best methods of completing the
work.

REFERENCES

http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/cost-accounting/labour-cost/time-and-motion-
study-department-advantages-and-calculation/55471/
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/time-and-motion-study.html
www.careerride.com/fa-time-booking.aspx
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/cost-accounting/time-keeping/methods-of-time-
keeping-manual-and-mechanical-methods/55475/
https://toggl.com/