How to Implement Time and Motion Studies

1. Get unlimited access faber infinite Follow Sep 29 · 4 min read How to Implement Time and Motion Studies Time and motion studies are a great way to analyze how your business operates. By observing the flow of tasks, you can gain insight into how much time it takes to perform certain tasks, and what causes the most waste in your organization. Time management is key for any company, but for many business owners who don’t know where to start with improving efficiency or productivity. I recommend starting with finding out just how much work each employee does on an average day. Analyze your needs If you are working on a project and have the luxury to do so, it is best to analyse your needs. This way, you will know what kind of information is required and how much it will cost. If this is not an option for your organization, then make sure that other people in charge understand why you need the information and what they need help with. They should be able to provide feedback about their own tasks so that everyone knows where they stand in relation with each other and thus where everyone stands overall. Generate a hypothesis The next step in implementing time and motion studies is to come up with a hypothesis. To do this, you’ll need to define the problem before starting on any solutions. Define your goal as clearly as possible to initiate processes like autonomous maintenance. This will help keep you focused on what’s important and make sure that you don’t get side-tracked by other goals that may seem more appealing at first but aren’t actually useful for achieving your main one.

2. Get unlimited access Create an observation list The observation list includes the following key pointers: What to observe? How long it takes a worker to complete a task? The order in which tasks are completed How to observe? If possible, take pictures of the process as well so that there is no doubt about what happened during each step! Try observing workers at their workstations when they’re performing repetitive tasks such as putting together parts for an assembly line machine. This will give them less opportunity for distraction due to socializing with co-workers nearby during breaks between shifts/jobs/etc. Perform a study Implement strategies and equipment to perform a study. Use a stopwatch to track the time spent on each step Set up the equipment and make sure it’s working. (If you’re using a camera, make sure that it’s on and recording. Walk through each part of your process, noting what steps take how long and where they occur in relation to other tasks or steps. Record everything with pen/paper or by using an app on your phone if possible. Otherwise use a spreadsheet for recording data points for later comparison purposes. Analyze your results After you’ve collected your data and analyzed it, the next step is to look for improvements. This can be done by analyzing trends in the data, looking at how things changed over time, and whether there are any patterns that stand out. The six sigma consultants help analyze the workforce and construct an effective plan to neutralize the work-related obstacles. Put your solution into action Now that you have the results of your time and motion study, it’s time to start putting them into action. First, use the study results to implement your solution. If there is something that needs improvement or expansion, use those findings as a starting point for improvements and expansions. Second, use the study results to improve processes within your organization so they can be implemented more efficiently and effectively in future projects or initiatives. Monitor improvements Aft h i l t d ti d ti t d it i i t t t

3. After you have implemented a time and motion study, it is important to monitor the improvement. You should make sure that the improvement is sustainable and relevant, as well as affordable and legal. Get unlimited access The change needs to be maintained over time in order for it to be effective. If you want employees to become more efficient at their jobs, they need more training or better tools on hand so they can do their jobs faster and more efficiently than before. The change needs to be relevant within your organization’s culture or business strategy; otherwise, there will likely be resistance from employees who do not see how this change could benefit them personally and thus why they should adopt it. Conclusion I hope this guide helps you to better understand how you can use time and motion studies in your business. Growth and profit are what every business seeks, hiring a lean management consultant to assist you with modern and effective strategies, adds value to your business. -- More from faber infinite Follow Love podcasts or audiobooks? Learn on the go with our new app. Try Knowable About Help Terms Privacy