Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 1 Introduction
Productivity Importance
Business and enterprise can grow and increase its profitability by increasing its productivity Fundamental tools that result in increased productivity are: methods, time study standards (work measurement), and work design
Background
If the production department is the heart of an industry then methods, standards, and work design is the heart of production. This function determines how competitive a product/company will become. Who performs this analysis? Engineers, OA, psychologists, HR, supervisors, and workers.
Organization Chart
Methods Engineering
AKA: OA, work design, re-engineering, productivity improvement (increased production/unit time or decrease cost/unit) Primary responsibility: Design and develop Work Center (WC) where product will be produced Secondary responsibility: Continually restudy WCs to find a better way!
Systematic Approach
To develop a work center, produce a product, or provide a service used by methods engineers Select the project Retrieve, format and present data Analyze data Develop method Present and install method Develop a job analysis Establish time standards Follow up
Work Design
Fit the task and work station to the operator (Ergonomics) Overly simplifying procedures result in machinelike repetitive tasks leading to increased rates of workrelated musculoskeletal disorders Method Engineers must incorporate ergonomics and safety considerations into the development / restructure of new or existing methods
Standards
End result of time study or work measurement Establishes an allowed time to perform a given task, based on measurable results Considers allowances for fatigue, personal, and unavoidable delays
Historical Perspective
Taylor is considered the father of modern time studies in the USA Breaks up work assignments into tasks known as elements Many standards were based on supervisors guess or inflated to show false gains within the department
History (cont.)
Congress basically restricts time study work until ban lifted in 1949 Gilbreaths are founders of modern motion study (micromotion) 1917 Gantt develops charts to show project schedules for war time shipbuilding 1957 HFS founded in USA