Time and Motion study

The mean goal of time and motion study is to determine the standard time of predefined work tasks.   Before 1950 standard times were calculated with the stopwatch and adjusted with tempo evaluation to normal performances.   But as tempo evaluation is a subjective matter Time Study based on predetermined times for human motions was introduced to make the results more objective or better controllable and more accurate. Every Predetermined Time Study system is based on the fact, that a human being consumes a constant time for a equal action like f.e. walk, take, place, if performed at the same pace or tempo.   Detailed ready work factor was introduced by H.J Quick and was undoubtable the first Time Study system based on Predetermined Times but was very quickly followed by MTM-1 which is today more worldwide spread.   These early systems where detailed and cumbersome to use because every smallest action like reaching and grasping of hand and fingers, legs and feet movements, are evaluated separately in Tmu which are fractions of seconds.   Both systems where developed in the thirties and stayed in use until the seventies.    From then on it became clear that faster methodologies would become necessary as product changes occur more often. Through the last 50 years a variety of Time Study systems has been developed by different organisations but always based on previous systems.   In the seventies and the eighties new systems where developed based on grouping of certain actions.   For example taking a object is a combination of reaching and grasping to a object and could be combined as one code because the second action always follows the first.   The last invention of the MTM organisation is UAS and is based on the Mercedes system "C-werte" and a MTM-1 comparison.   Independent organisations have however continued to develop faster Time Study systems like the VWF system based on RWF and the LCW system sole based on MTM-1. Today only a handful of Time Study systems are still in use.   Normally the rule to select a system for internal use should be simple.   The easier, the faster a system is to learn the more interesting it is to use.   But unfortunately very often this is not the case because company history, company policy, commonality and habits are sometimes more decisive in choosing a system.   The first systems like MTM-1, MTM-2 and RWF have almost vanished from the shop floor due to their complexity.   Today you will find systems like MTM-SD, MTM-UAS, SAM, VWF and LCW. Modern systems like LCW adds an additional factor to the concept of human motions and uses object motions to speed up analyse time and improve reporting results. The engineer of today demands an easy and simple Time Study system to learn and to perform and software to deploy. ® Work-factor & MTM are registered trade marks of there license holders