Work Study - Meaning & Objective (IEM Work Study 23Feb 2021)

Work Study

Meaning of Work Study:

According to ILO — International Labour Organization — work study is “a term used to embrace the techniques of method study and work measurement which are employed to ensure the best possible use of human and material resources in carrying out a specified activity.” In other words, “work study is a tool or technique of management involving the analytical study of a job or operation.” Work study helps to increase productivity.

Definition and Concept of Work Study:

Work study, as defined by British Standard Institution, is a generic term for those techniques particularly ‘Method Study’ and ‘Work Measurement’ which are used in the examination of human work in all its contexts and which lead systematically to the investigation of all the factors which effect the efficiency of the situation being reviewed, in order to seek improvements.

Actually, work study investigates the work done in an organization and it aims at finding the best and most efficient way of using available resources, i.e., men, material, money and machinery. Every organization tries to achieve best quality production in the minimum possible time.

The time required to manufacture an item depends upon the manufacturing procedure; and one phase of work study known as Method study aims at finding the best possible manufacturing procedure which involves, least time and does not cause fatigue to the workers.

In brief, method study or motion study aims at finding the best way of doing a job. Method Study may be defined as the systematic investigation (i.e., recording and critical examination) of the existing method of doing a job in order to develop and install an easy, rapid, efficient, effective and less fatiguing procedure for doing the same job and at lower costs.

This is generally achieved by eliminating unnecessary motions involved in a certain procedure or by changing the sequence of operation or the process itself.

Once the method study has developed an improved procedure for doing a job, the work Measure­ment or Time Study will find the time allowed to complete the job by that procedure. Work Measurement may be defined as the application of different techniques to measure and establish the time required to complete the job by a qualified worker at a defined level of performance. The time necessary to complete a job is determined from number of observations.

Need for Work Study:

Principles of work study used to be employed even long ago, in order to explore improvements, when industry was simple and involved lesser problems; of course a systematic procedure was not there. Today the industries with all their complexities and modernization naturally demand a more systematic approach like the work study in its present form.

 

Work study finds applications in:

1. Industries (Production operations, research and development),

2. Marketing, sales and distribution,

3. Offices, stores and warehouses,

4. Material handling,

5. Design,

6. Building and other constructions,

7. Transport,

8. Hospital,

9. Army, and

10. Agriculture, etc.

Objectives of Work Study:

(i) Work study brings higher productivity;

(ii) Work study improves existing method of work for which cost becomes lower;

(iii) It eliminates wasteful elements;

(iv) It sets standard of performance;

(v) It helps to use plant and human more effectively;

(vi) It improves by saving in time and loss of material also.

Advantages of Work Study:

(a) Uniform and improved production flow,

(b) Higher productive efficiency,

(c) Reduced manufacturing costs,

(d) Fast and accurate delivery dates,

(e) Better employee-employer relations,

(f) Better service to customers,

(g) Job security and job satisfaction to workers,

(h) Better working and other conditions, and

(i) Higher wages to workers.

Objectives of (or Advantages Obtained Through) Method Study:

(1) Improved working processes and standardized procedures,

(2) Better work place layout; neat and clean environments and working conditions,

(3) Less fatigue to operators,

(4) Better product quality,

(5) Effective utilization of men, materials and machinery,

(6) Efficient and fast material handling,

(7) Reduced health hazards,

(8) Efficient planning of the section, and

(9) Streamlined working procedures.

Objectives of (or Advantages Achieved Through) Work Measurement:

(1) Determines the time required to do a job; thus, it compares alternative methods and establishes the fastest method;

(2) Decides man power required for a job; it helps in man power economy;

(3) Decides equipment requirements;

(4) Provides information for effective production planning and maintenance procedures;

(5) Aids in calculating exact delivery dates;

(6) Decides realistic labour budgeting and provides a basis for standard costing system;

(7) Provides a basis for fair and sound incentive schemes; and

(8) Results in effective labour control.