In January 1993, the MMI team initiated a third work measurement study of mechanical maintenance at North Station. The objectives of the study were to (1) analyze results and compare them against two previous studies reported by an earlier paid consultant in September 1990 and July 1991, (2) consider the validity and implications for the future of doing an in-house study, and (3) help station personnel become accustomed to being measured as normal practice for a first-rate maintenance organization.

This study was conducted over 7 weeks during January through March 1993. Observations were taken evenly over 10-hour, first-shift work periods, excluding the lunch period from 12:00 noon to 12:30 PM. Observations were only made of personnel within the plant grounds and did not include personnel going outside the main gate to the fuel oil dock or to other company facilities. Care was taken to duplicate, as much as practical, the practices of the earlier studies. Attachment A, Procedure for Measuring Workforce Productivity by Work Sampling, was developed and utilized for this study.

The measurement focus of this study is on quantifying the amount of time spent by the workforce in various types of activities when the employees are present to work for an entire 10-hour shift. The time spent performing work at a job site is direct work or wrench time. Time spent otherwise, such as in traveling or waiting, is indirect work. From quantifying and analyzing indirect work activities, action can be taken to reduce their amounts...