Techniques of Work Study and Their Relationship with Management, Supervisor, Worker

Techniques of Work Study and Their Relationship

Method study is the systematic recording and critical examination of ways of doing things in order to make improvements.

Work measurement is the application of techniques designed to establish the time for a qualified worker to carry out a task at a defined rate of working.

Work study and Management

Systematic analysis usually found to be bad planning, bad organization, insufficient control or the lack of proper training.

• Lose their self-confidence

• Feel less clever though have years of experience and great practical knowledge

• Begin to think whether they may not be replaced

• Feeling of security is threatened

• Always tried to prove analysis is wrong

Work study must be made clear to everybody from the very beginning.

• Starting from the top (top management, managing director, the president etc.)

“People lower down tend to take their attitudes from the person at the top”

Work study and the supervisor

Most difficult problem may often be the attitude of supervisors.

“This work study stuff is nonsense".

• Supervisors are the people most deeply affected by work study.
• Responsibilities have been taken (loss of status).

The value to the work study person of a supervisor who understands and is enthusiastic about what he or she is trying to do cannot be overemphasized

Some rules must be observed

• Never give a direct order to a worker

• Workers asking questions for decisions, always referred to their supervisor

• Never to express opinions to a worker

• Not allow workers to "play him or her off” against the supervisor

• Seek the supervisor's advice in the selection of jobs to be studied

Work study and the worker

• Physiological needs

• Security

• Affiliation

• Need to be recognized

• Fulfillment (self-actualization)

Some rules must be observed

• Raising productivity should be approached in a balanced way, without too great an emphasis being placed on productivity of labor.

• Be open and frank as to the purpose of the study.

• Recognition by giving proper credit (suggestions and ideas).

• The work, not the worker, is being studied.

• Train basic techniques and allow to contribute to discussions (productivity circle).

• Objective is not merely to increase productivity but also to improve job satisfaction (minimize fatigue and make job more interesting & satisfying)

The work study practitioner

• Education (preferably in the engineering)

• Practical experience

Personal qualities

Inventive turn of mind, capable of devising simple mechanisms and devices which can often save a great deal of time and effort, and able to gain the cooperation of the engineers and technicians in developing them.

• Sincerity and honesty
• Enthusiasm
• Interest in and sympathy with people
• Tact
• Good appearance
• Self-confidence