| Vol. 5 No. 30 | page 8 | July 25, 1957 |
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About 2500 B. C. the Babalonian King Humarabi wrote, "This work is not too much for the men with you. When you shall see this letter, with the strength of the men which are with you, within three days clear out the canal within Crech. After cleaning the canal, do then the work regarding which I wrote you." In forty-eight words he had established a standard for the time to start the job, the time allowed for completion and the number of workers for the job. Here is the first recorded examples of standards.
Since men have been performing work, certain types of standards have regulated their labors. Government work has been regulated largely by Historical Standards, which are standards for men, material and money as compared with the amount needed for the same or similar jobs completed in the past. Standards of this type are not completely accurate, because they do not take into consideration the effectiveness and efficiency of the equipment and workers.
The Classification and the Executive Order 10072, dated 1949, directed the Department of Defense Agency heads to give increased and regular attention to the economy and effectiveness of the program for which they were responsible.
As a result, Engineered Standards were investigated and tried in various degrees at numerous installations with much success. Because of this success an Ordnance Corps Order was issued 20 May, 1957 stating the purpose, scope and method of establishing Engineered Standards in all areas is 31 December 1959.
| Vol. 5 No. 31 | page 4 | Aug. 1, 1957 |
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As was illustrated in Article I, the date for completion of the establishment of the Engineered Standards in all areas is 31 December 1959.
First procedure required for establishing standards is to secure the necessary personnel. To complete the Engineered standards by the date established it is necessary to employ and train four Standards Tedhnicians. An attempt is being made to secure thes technicians locally, from applicants passing the necessary test and having qualifying experience.
Second in the extablishing procedure is to train the technicians in the process of Methods and Standards. This will be done by an instructor from OMETP or by a local instructor if an instructor is not available from OMETP.
Upon the completion of the technician training the actual standards program will be started.
A basic criteria consisting of five steps is used as a guide in establishing standards.
Step 1. Present Method - To chart present method of perform operation.
Step 2. Methods Improvement - If and where possible improve, material, product, process, tools, work area or equipment.
Step 3. Time Study and Pace Rating - Make a time study and rating of the improved method.
Step 4. Establish Standard - This is establishing a standard on improved method.
Step 5. Trial, Application and Follow-up - This is the trial or application of the standard, and at a later date observation of the success of the standard.
(Each step will be explained thoroughly in the succeeding articles.)
| Vol. 5 No. 32 | page 2 | Aug. 8, 1957 |
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The preceding article listed a criteria of five steps to be followed in establishing standards, the first of which was to chart present method of performing operations.
In performing the first steps of this criteria the most freqwently used method is by the product or man analysis. The product analysis is a process for recording in a compact manner, and in symbol form an entire process from beginning to end. This type of chart illustrates the operation, inspection, movement and storage in the order that each is perofrmed. The Product Analysis chart is used on a conveyor or line type activity.
The Man Analysis is a chart portraying in symbol form the work of an individual at a job or work station of such nature that a considerable area is covered by the work of an individual. Jobs of maintenance and service employees, material handlers, inspectors and certain clerical employees are applicable to this type of charting.
Where the entire process or operation is charted, step two Methods Improvements can be applied.
| Vol. 5 No. 35 | page 2 | Aug. 29, 1957 |
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Preceding articles listed five steps to follow in establishing standards. The first of which is Charting Present Method of Performing Operations. The second step is Methods Improvement. An operation that has been in use for a period of time is usually difficult to improve upon by a mere visual observation, so a guide is used listing numberous possible areas of improvement.
These areas of improvement are:
1. Can a suboperation be eliminated? Often a suboperation can be eliminated by a change of tools, combination of tools, change in layout or workplace, or by change in order of work.
2. Can the movement of an article be eliminated? In many cases extra motion or movement can be eliminated, as unnecessary, by change of equipment or by gravity feed or disposal.
3. Can a hold be eliminated? Often the holding of an article can be eliminated, as unnecessary, or by holding device or jig.
4. Can delay be eliminated or shortened? In many instances delay can be eliminated by balancing work between operators, or by working simultaneously on two items.
5. Can a suboperation be made easier? As suboperation can usually be made easier by changing leverage, by better material containers, by using inertia where possible, by lessening visual requirements or by better workplace heights.
6. Can a movement be made easier? As a rule the moving of an article can be simplified by a change of layout which shortens distance, or by changing direction of movements.
7. Can a cycle be rearranged so that more of the handwork can be done during running time? This can often be accomplished by automatic feed, or by automatic supply of material.
8. Can a machine time be shortened? In many instances the machine operation time can be shortened by better tools, combining tools or by higher feed or speeds.
This and more elaborate guides along with suggestions by operators will usually result in some degree of improvement.
| Vol. 5 No. 37 | page 2 | Sept. 12, 1957 |
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Previous articles explained the second step in criteria for establishing standards. This step was Method Improvement. Upon establishing an improved method the next step is to measure the work being done and rate the individual performing the work.
Work is measured, primarily, by two methods: Time study and Work Sampling.
1. When the Time Study Method is used the operation is divided into elements of a measurable duration and actually timed. In the timing procedure all elements irregular in nature are not timed, only elements directly involved in the operation. When a satisfactory timing cycle has been completed adjustments are added depending on the type of work, weight involved, eye strain, etc.
2. When the Work Sampling Method is used to measure work samples or observations are taken at irregular intervals over a long period of time which will reveal, with a very small percentage of error, the amount of each type of work performed. Work Sampling Method is used where no regular cycle of work can be measured by Time Study.
Rating the individual is done at the same time as the readings or observations are being taken. Standards are established upon 100 percent of efficiency. If an individual is rated at 125 percent and completes 100 units per day, the standards would be adjusted at 800 units per day.
The Time Study Technician is given many hours of practice and training through film before he is allowed to rate individuals actually performing an operation.
| Vol. 5 No. 38 | page 2 | Sept. 19, 1957 |
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Upon completion of the three previously explained steps which were: Charting Present Method, Methods Improvement and Work Measurement and Pace Rating, an accurate standard can be established.
Several steps must be considered and adjustments made for each in order to arrive at an accurate standard.
These steps are as follows:
1. The amount of body used to perform the task. Adjustments are made on the amount of body used to perform a task. If hand, arm, and leg motion are necessary to complete the task, more adjustments would be allowed than for hand motions only.
2. The amount of Bimanualness necessary. Adjustments are made if a considerable amount of hand coordination is required.
3. Eye-hand Coordination. Adjustments in computing standards are allowed if the amount of tolerance is small or if eye-hand coordination is extremely close.
4. Handling requirements. If the task performed requires careful or fragile handling, adjustments are allowed.
5. Weight. If handling of heavy objects are necessary in completing a task, alloances are made for the amount of weight.
Other adjustments allowed in computing standards are: authorized break time, personal time, workplace preparation and cleanup.
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