1. What is work measurement?
Work measurement is the application of techniques used to determine the time required for a qualified worker to complete a specific job at a defined level of performance. In simple words, work measurement tells the organization how much time a job should normally take.
1.1 What is time study?
Time study is one of the main techniques of work measurement. It involves observing, recording, analyzing, and deciding the time required to perform a job or its parts. In simple words, time study means carefully watching a job and measuring how long it takes.
Very easy meaning
Suppose a worker packs one box.
Management wants to know:
- how long should one box normally take?
- is the worker slow, or is the method poor?
- how can production be planned properly?
So they observe the worker, divide the job into steps, measure the time for each step, and then decide a standard time.
That full process is called time study, and it comes under work measurement.
2. Why work measurement is important
Work measurement is important because without time standards, management works only on guesswork.
If the company does not know how long a job should take:
- schedules become weak
- labor planning becomes inaccurate
- production targets become unrealistic
- incentive systems become unfair
- machine loading becomes difficult
- cost estimation becomes poor
So work measurement helps management:
- fix standard time
- improve planning
- compare performance
- estimate manpower needs
- support wage and incentive systems
- reduce inefficiency
3. Main objective of work measurement
The main objective of work measurement is to determine the standard time required to complete a job under normal conditions.
This helps the organization answer:
- how long should this job take?
- how many workers are needed?
- how much output can be expected?
- how should work be scheduled?
So work measurement brings clarity, control, and fairness into operations.
4. Main objective of time study
The objective of time study is to determine the time required to complete a job by an average or qualified worker under normal conditions.
This means time study does not assume:
- an extremely slow worker
- an unusually fast worker
It tries to find a fair and practical time standard.
5. Difference between work measurement and time study
Students often confuse these two.
Work measurement
Work measurement is the broader concept. It includes different techniques used to determine job time.
Time study
Time study is one specific technique used under work measurement.
So:
- Work Measurement = broad concept
- Time Study = one method inside it
Simple memory:
- work measurement is the full area
- time study is one important tool
6. Need for time study
Time study is needed when the company wants to:
- know how long a job should take
- fix standard time
- improve planning
- reduce idle time
- estimate labor cost
- compare worker performance
- set fair incentives
- improve production control
Without time study, a company may say:
“Do this quickly.”
But after time study, the company can say:
“This job should normally take 8 minutes.”
That makes management more scientific.
7. Steps in time study
Time study usually follows a clear sequence.
Select the job
Choose the job that needs to be studied.
Usually the company selects jobs where:
- output is important
- time is uncertain
- delays are common
- cost is high
- standard time is needed
Record the method
Before timing, the analyst records how the job is actually being done.
This is important because time study should be based on a clear and proper method.
Divide the job into elements
The job is divided into smaller parts called elements.
Example for packing:
- pick the item
- place it in the box
- seal the box
- label the box
Breaking the job into elements helps in careful timing.
Observe and measure time
The analyst observes the worker and records the time taken for each element.
This is often done over several cycles, not just once.
Determine average time
The recorded times are averaged.
This gives a more reliable result than using only one reading.
Apply performance rating
If needed, the analyst adjusts the observed time according to the worker’s performance level.
Add allowances
Allowances are added for:
- personal needs
- fatigue
- unavoidable delay
Then the final standard time is set.
8. What is observed time?
Observed time means the actual time recorded while watching the worker perform the job.
Example:
If a worker takes:
- 2 minutes in first observation
- 2.2 minutes in second observation
- 1.9 minutes in third observation
These are observed times.
Observed time is the starting point of time study.
9. What is standard time?
Standard time means the time allowed for a qualified worker to complete a job under normal working conditions, including proper allowances.
In simple words:
Standard time = fair time for doing the job properly
It is used for:
- production planning
- scheduling
- costing
- wage systems
- output targets
So standard time is one of the most useful results of work measurement.
10. What are allowances?
Allowances are extra time added to basic job time to make the final standard fair and practical.
A worker cannot work continuously like a machine. So some extra time must be included.
Personal allowance
This is for normal personal needs.
Fatigue allowance
This is for physical and mental tiredness during work.
Process allowance
This is for unavoidable delays related to the process, such as machine waiting or process delay. Your material identifies process allowance as the allowance that compensates for machine waiting or process delays.
Allowances help make the time standard realistic.
11. Why jobs are divided into elements
In time study, jobs are often divided into smaller parts because:
- it becomes easier to observe
- repeated motions are easier to measure
- mistakes in timing reduce
- improvement opportunities become clearer
- some steps may take more time than others
Example:
Instead of timing “packing one carton” as one block, the analyst studies:
- picking
- folding
- placing
- sealing
- labeling
This gives better analysis.
12. Importance of performance rating
Not all workers perform at the same speed.
One worker may be very fast. Another may be slow.
If management simply records time without considering performance, the standard may become unfair.
So analysts sometimes use performance rating to judge whether the worker is:
- below normal
- normal
- above normal
This helps convert observed time into a fair working time.
13. Importance of standard time
Standard time is very important in operations.
It helps in:
- production scheduling
- manpower planning
- line balancing
- labor costing
- capacity planning
- wage incentive plans
- productivity comparison
- target setting
Once a company knows standard time, management becomes much more scientific.
14. Work sampling
Work measurement is not done only through time study. Another important technique is work sampling.
Work sampling is a technique of analyzing work by taking observations at random intervals to see the relative frequency of different activities.
In simple words:
Instead of continuously timing the whole job, the observer checks at different moments:
- is the worker working?
- is the worker waiting?
- is the machine running?
- is the machine idle?
This helps understand how time is being used.
15. Difference between time study and work sampling
Time study
Time study is used to measure the time for a specific job or job element.
Work sampling
Work sampling is used to estimate how often certain activities happen, especially in longer or less repetitive work.
So:
- Time study = detailed timing
- Work sampling = random observation of time use
Both are useful, but for different purposes.
16. Equipment used in time study
Time study usually uses simple observation tools.
Commonly used tools may include:
- stopwatch
- observation sheet
- timing board
- calculator or digital device
Your material specifically notes that a thermometer is not used for time study, which helps clarify that time study uses timing and recording tools, not unrelated instruments.
17. Time study in manufacturing
In manufacturing, time study is commonly used for:
- packing jobs
- machining work
- assembly work
- inspection tasks
- loading and unloading
- repetitive production operations
Example:
A factory may use time study to determine how long one worker should take to assemble one switchboard unit.
This helps in planning daily output.
18. Time study in service organizations
Time study is not only for factories.
It can also be used in:
- hospitals
- banks
- retail stores
- offices
- warehouses
- schools
Examples:
- how long it takes to register a patient
- how long it takes to process a bank form
- how long billing takes in a store
- how long file handling takes in an office
So work measurement is useful in both manufacturing and services.
19. Benefits of time study
Time study gives many benefits.
Better planning
Management can plan jobs more accurately.
Better control
Standard time helps management compare actual performance with expected performance.
Better productivity analysis
It becomes easier to see where time is being lost.
Better labor utilization
Management can assign work more effectively.
Better cost estimation
Job time is closely linked with labor cost.
Fair incentive systems
Workers can be rewarded more fairly when standards are scientific.
20. Problems in time study
Time study also has some difficulties.
Worker resistance
Workers may feel they are being watched too closely.
Wrong method selection
If the method being timed is already poor, the time standard will also be poor.
Inaccurate observation
If timing is careless, the results become unreliable.
Unnatural worker behavior
Some workers may speed up or slow down because they know they are being observed.
So time study should be done carefully, fairly, and professionally.
21. Conditions for successful time study
For time study to be successful:
- the method should be proper first
- the worker should understand the purpose
- the analyst should be trained
- enough observations should be taken
- allowances should be fair
- management should use the results properly
Time study should be used for improvement, not for harassment.
22. Work measurement and incentives
Work measurement is often used in wage and incentive plans.
Why?
Because management needs to know:
- what is fair expected output
- what is normal time
- how much extra output deserves extra pay
Without work measurement, incentive schemes may become unfair.
So work measurement supports:
- performance evaluation
- wage planning
- bonus systems
23. Work measurement and productivity improvement
Work measurement improves productivity because it:
- shows real time requirements
- reveals delays
- supports better scheduling
- helps identify underutilization
- helps improve balance of work
When time is measured properly, management can improve:
- method
- staffing
- sequencing
- machine use
- workload distribution
So work measurement supports both planning and productivity.
24. Difference between method study and time study
This is a very important exam point.
Method study
Method study asks:
What is the best way to do this job?
Time study
Time study asks:
How much time should this job take?
So:
- method study improves the method
- time study measures the time
Usually, method should be improved first, and then time study should be done.
25. Difference between standard time and actual time
Actual time
This is the time actually taken by a worker during observation.
Standard time
This is the fair allowed time after considering normal performance and allowances.
So actual time is what is seen, while standard time is what is set for control and planning.
26. Simple exam-style answer
Work measurement is the technique used to determine the time required for a qualified worker to perform a specific job at a defined level of performance. Time study is one of the main techniques of work measurement and involves observing, recording, and analyzing the time taken for job elements. The main objective is to establish standard time for planning, scheduling, costing, and productivity improvement. Work measurement helps in manpower planning, labor costing, incentive schemes, and production control. Other important techniques include work sampling. Time study is useful in both manufacturing and service operations.
27. Very easy memory version
Work measurement means:
find the correct time for a job
Time study means:
observe and measure the time taken for a job
Remember:
- Method Study = best way
- Time Study = right time
28. Final easy example
Suppose a warehouse worker packs parcels.
Management wants to know how long one parcel should normally take to pack.
So they:
- observe the worker
- divide the task into steps
- record each step’s time
- average the timings
- add proper allowances
Finally, they decide the standard time for one parcel.
That process is called time study, and it is a part of work measurement.
