INSY 3021

Time Study

Auburn University
Spring 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 (cont)

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,
etcIn 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