Work Study and Industrial Engineering

Work Study and Industrial Engineering

• Work study and industrial engineering are crucial for improving organizational efficiency and productivity in competitive environments.
• They help simplify, design, and enrich jobs, conduct value analysis/engineering, and analyze methods and operations.
• Industrial engineering optimizes systems involving plants, machinery, and workers.

Work Study Techniques

• Work study uses method study and work measurement to assess human work potential (time taken for tasks) and find ways to increase productivity and efficiency.
• It aims to improve on-the-job performance, optimize plant/machinery use, and standardize work methods.
• Key objectives include scientifically analyzing existing methods, measuring worker performance, optimizing resource use, boosting productivity and worker morale, and enhancing organizational efficiency.

Advantages of Work Study

• Increases production efficiency and utilizes resources optimally.
• Improves material and product flow, handling, and layout.
• Decreases production costs by reducing time spent on tasks.
• Boosts worker morale, safety, and efficiency.
• Establishes benchmark and standard performance levels.
• Enhances job satisfaction and incentivizes workers.

Defining Work & Machine Hours

• A work hour represents one person working for one hour.
• A machine hour represents one machine running for one hour.

Basic Work Content

• Basic work content is the minimum time theoretically required to produce one unit of output, assuming perfect design, process, and no wasted time (except for legitimate breaks).
• This is an idealized concept, rarely achieved in practice.

Work Study Approach

• It's a systematic and accurate method for setting performance standards, crucial for production planning and control.
• It identifies both good and bad operational functioning of a company.
• It is necessary to proceed with tact to avoid negative reactions from workers and management.
• Work study potentially exposes inefficiency to motivate change.

Nature of Work Study

• Improves plant productivity through work reorganization, requiring minimal capital investment.
• It is systematic, ensuring no efficiency factors are missed.
• It is the most precise method for establishing performance standards.
• Contributes to workplace safety and improved working conditions.
• Savings from improved work study methods are immediate and sustained.
• It is a versatile tool applicable across various industries (manufacturing, offices, stores, laboratories, service industries, farms).
• It is a relatively inexpensive and easy-to-implement method.
• Identifies broader organizational inefficiencies.

Method Study and Work Measurement

• Method study systematically improves existing work methods.
• Work measurement establishes time standards for completing a task at a defined performance level.
• Method study reduces work content; work measurement identifies and eliminates ineffective time.
• Method study enhances efficiency and profitability.

Basic Procedure of Work Study

• Step 1: Select the job or process to be studied.
• Step 2: Collect, record relevant job/process data using appropriate techniques.
• Step 3: Critically analyze recorded data, considering purpose, location, sequence, person, and methods.
• Step 4: Develop the most cost-effective method.
• Step 5: Evaluate the improved method and calculate a standard time.
• Step 6: Present the improved method and standard time to all stakeholders.
• Step7: Implement the new method and provide training.
• Step 8: Continuously monitor and compare results against original targets to maintain the standard practice.

Method Study Objectives

• Study existing and proposed work processes.
• Identify new methods for increased production and cost reduction.
• Achieve optimum resource utilization.
• Enhance organizational productivity and profitability.

Method Study Procedures

• Step 1: Select the work to be studied.
• Step 2: Record the current method.
• Step 3: Critically examine the recorded facts.
• Step 4: Develop the most practical, economical, and effective method.
• Step 5: Implement the new method.
• Step 6: Maintain and check the new method.