What is rating? How to rate operator? Rating in time study, Factors affecting the rate of working, Scales of rating, Qualified worker,How the rating factor is used

Rating in time study.

Rating is one of the most controversial aspects of time study.

Rating is the assessment of the worker's rate of working relative to the observer's concept of the rate corresponding to standard pace

A qualified worker is one who has acquired the skill, knowledge and other attributes to carry out the work in hand to satisfactory standards of quantity, quality and safety.

• Achieves smooth and consistent movements
• Acquires rhythm
• Responds more rapidly to signals
• Anticipates difficulties and is more ready to overcome them
• Carries out the task without giving the appearance of conscious attention and is therefore more relaxed.

Distribution of times taken by workers to perform a given job

Standard performance is the rate of output which qualified workers will naturally achieve without over-exertion as an average over the working day or shift, provided that they know and adhere to the specified method and provided that they are motivated to apply themselves to their work.

This performance is denoted as 100 on the standard rating and performance scales

Effect of ineffective time on performance

Effect of a payment-by-results incentive on the time taken to perform an operation

Comparing the observed rate of working with the standard

• Confidence in the accuracy
• Long experience and practice
• Expert guidance

Factors affecting the rate of working

Factors outside the control of the worker

• Variations in the quality or other characteristics of the material used
• Changes in the operating efficiency of tools or equipment
• Minor & unavoidable changes in methods or conditions
• Variations in the mental attention necessary for the performance of certain element
• Changes in climatic & other surrounding conditions such as light, temperature, etc.

Factors within the control of the worker

• Acceptable variations in the quality of the product
• Variations due to the individual's ability
• Variations due to the attitude of mind, especially the attitude to the organization

Should be careful not to rate too highly when:

• The worker is worried or looks hurried
• The worker is obviously being over-careful
• The job looks difficult to the study person
• The study person is working very fast, as when recording a short-element study

Should be careful not to rate too low when:

• The worker makes the job look easy
• The worker is using smooth, rhythmic movements
• The worker does not pause to think when the study person expects this
• The worker is performing heavy manual work
• The study person is tired

Scales of rating

How the rating factor is used

Observed time x Rating = A constant

Observed time x Rating is very rarely exactly constant when taken over a large number of readings for various reasons:

• Variations in the work content of the element
• Inaccuracies in noting and recording observed times
• Inaccuracies in rating
• Variations due to rating to the nearest five points

Basic time is the time for carrying out an element of work at standard rating

and

Work content

The amount of work which has to be done to complete a job or operation, as distinct from any ineffective time which may occur.

Basic time + Relaxation allowance + Any allowance for additional work 

(e.g. that part of contingency allowance which represents work)