Methods, Standards and Work Design: An Introduction INSY 3021 Auburn University Spring 2008

All aspects of business/industry such as stores, hotels, hospitals, banks, airlines, government, etc… Sales, finance, production, engineering, cost, maintenance, and management. Considered by most as applicable to only the production function. Applicability

Goal: Combine the lowest possible production cost with maximum employee satisfaction. Includes: Designing, creating, and selecting the best manufacturing methods and processes, tools, equipment, and training workers to produce a desired product/service. Scope

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. Background

Identify the problem Break job down into operations Analyze each for most economical method (consider Ergo/Safety) Apply proper time values Place method in service Follow up for adjustments/changes Typical Approach

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 WC’s to find a better way! Methods Engineering

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 Systematic Approach

Fit the task and work station to the operator (Ergonomics) Increased rates of RSIs and CTDs result from overly simplifying procedures resulting in machine like repetitive tasks Method Engineers must incorporate ergonomics and safety considerations into the development/restructure of new or existing methods Work Design

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 Standards

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 Historical Perspective

Congress basically restricts “time study” work until ban lifted in 1949 Gilbreth’s are founders of modern motion study (micromotion) 1917 Gantt develops charts to show project schedules for war time shipbuilding 1957 HFS founded in USA History (cont.)

1970 OSHact passed 1981 NIOSH lifting guides ADA passed 1991 NIOSH lifting guides revised 1995 draft ergonomics standard released for CTDs Currently several computerized time systems are available History (cont.)

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