TABLE OF CONTENTS Lawrence S. Aft
Aft Systems, Inc.
Roswell, Georgia
Work measurement is performed to develop the standard time to perform operations. Time standards have traditionally been defined as the time required by a typical operator, working at a normal pace, to perform a specified task using a prescribed method, with time for personal matters, fatigue, and delay allowed. Time standards, work standards, or just standards, are critical pieces of management information that apply to all kinds of work, including manufacturing, assembly, and clerical.
Standards provide information essential for the successful operation of an organization. This information includes:
Data for scheduling. Production schedules cannot be set unless times for all operations are known. Delivery dates cannot be promised unless times for all operations are known.
Data for staffing. The number of workers required cannot accurately be determined unless the time required to process the existing work is known. Continuing management of the work force requires the use of labor variance reports. Labor variance reports are also most useful for determining changes in work methods, especially the subtle or incremental changes.
Data for line balancing. The correct number of workstations for optimum workflow depends on the processing time, or standard, at each workstation. Operation times and set-up times are key pieces of this information.
Data for materials requirement planning. MRP systems cannot operate properly without accurate work standards.
Data for system simulation. Simulation models cannot accurately simulate operation unless times for all operations are known.
Data...
