Method Study Analysis and Charts

TIME STUDY
METHOD STUDY
Methods engineering /work design
Breakdown of operation into components

Systematic analysis of each component

Eliminates un-necessary operations

According to BSI
It is systematic recording & examination of existing methods of
doing work and developing more effective methods
METHOD STUDY ANALYSIS:
Method study is a technique to Flow Diagrams & Process
reduce the work content mainly Charts etc.
by eliminating unnecessary
Critical questioning
movements by workers,
materials, or equipment. techniques.
Method study is the systematic
However, even after that, there recording and critical
could be substantial examination of existing and
unnecessary time taken for the proposed ways of doing work, as
process because of lack of a means of developing and
management control or inaction applying easier and more
of worker. effective methods and reducing
costs.
Method Study approaches and
tools of Method Analyst:
Used to analyze
Movement of body, people, or material
Activities of people & machines
 SELECT

RECORD

EXAMINE

Procedure for
DEVELOPE
Method Study
EVALUATE

DEFINE

INSTALL

MAINTAIN
RECORDING TECHNIQUES
Recording
techniques for
Method Study

Charts Diagrams

Macro Motion Micro Motion 1.Flow Diagram

charts charts
2.String Diagram

1.Operations Process Chart SIMO Chart

2.Flow Process Chart
3.Two Handed Process Chart
4.Multiplle Activity Chart
CHARTS
SYMBOLS USED IN CHARTS
OPERATION

INSPECTION

TRANSPORTATION

DELAY

STORAGE
 1.Operation Process Chart
Also called Outline process chart
Birds eye view of whole process
Records only major activities and inspections
Uses only two symbols i.e. operations & inspection
Constructed by placing symbols one below another
Uses
Visualize sequence of operations & inspections in
process
Know where operations selected fits into the entire
process
2. Flow Process Chart
Gives sequence of flow of work
Operations, inspection, storage, delay and transportation are
represented
Constructed same as operation process chart
Three types
1. Material type
2. Man type
3. Equipment type

Uses
Reduce idle time and delays
Reduce distance travelled
Reduce production cycle time
To relocate inspection stages
Process chart for making a cheese sandwich

Distance in Symbol Process description

meter
10 Move to cabinet
- Get loaf of bread
- Remove two slices of bread
- Lay slices on table top
- Close loaf of bread
- Replace loaf on shelf
- Open butter
- Spread butter on top slice
- Inspect sandwich
- Move to serving area
10 Serve sandwich
3.Two handed process chart
Most detailed type
Activities of workers hand recorded in relation to one another
Confined to work carried out at a single workplace
Uses

Visualize complete sequence of activities in repetitive task

Study work station layout

4.Multiple activity chart

Activities of more than one subject each recorded

Common time scale to show inter-relationship
Uses

Study idle time

Determine no. of machines handled by one operator
Determine no. of operators required
 Multiple activity chart for doing three loads of laundry

Time Operator Machine 1 Machine 2

Washer Dryer
# Sec Load clothes & detergent in Being loaded Idle
machine 1
idle Run Idle
- Remove clothes from machine Being unloaded Idle
1

- Load clothes into machine 2 Idle Being loaded

- Load clothes & detergent into Being loaded Run
machine 1
- Idle Run Run
- Remove clothes from machine Idle Being unloaded
2
- Hang clothes Idle Idle
DIAGRAMS
1.Flow diagram

Drawing of working area & showing location of various activities

Shows the route followed and selects the optimum one
Study different layout and selecting optimum one
Study traffic and frequency over different routes

Procedure :

Layout of workplace is drawn to scale

Relative positions of the m/c tools, storage & inspection benches are marked
on the scale
Path followed by the subject under study is tracked by drawing lines
Each movement is serially numbered & indicated by arrow for direction
Different colors are used to denote different types of movements
1.String diagram

Scale layout drawing

length of a string is used to record extent & pattern of movements of a worker
within a limited area.
Movements difficult to trace on flow diagram can be shown
Shows the route followed and selects the optimum one
Study different layout and selecting optimum one
Study traffic and frequency over different routes

Procedure :

A Layout of workplace is drawn to scale

Pins are fixed into boards to mark locations of workstations
Pins are also driven at turning points of the routes
A measured length of thread is taken to trace the movements
The distance covered by object is obtained by measuring the remaining part
of the thread and subtracting it from original length
Suggested by Frank o Gilbreth
Technique for recording and timing an activity
Divides human activities in a group of movements or
micro motions (called therblings)
Helps to find best pattern of movements for an operator
that consumes less time and requires less effort

Steps involved

Filming the operation to be studied

Analysis of the data from the film
SIMO CHART
SIMO = SImultaneous MOtion Chart
Recording technique for Micro Motion study
Simultaneous motions are filmed and recorded on a common time scale
and analyzed
Therblings performed by different parts of body of one or more operators
recorded
Expensive equipments required
used when saving from study is high