METHOD STUDY

SWATI SINGH - 53
KALYANI THOKE - 24
PRACHI BHADRA - 34
SAMEER SHEIKH - 44
GIRISH SHARMA - 19
SUNIL LALA - 51
 Method Study

Method study is a technique to reduce the work content mainly by

eliminating unnecessary movements by workers, materials, or equipments.

Method study is the systematic recording and critical examination of

existing and proposed ways of doing work, as a means of developing and
applying easier and more effective methods and reducing costs.
 Method Study Objectives
• Improvement of processes and procedures.

• Improvement in the design of plant and equipment.

• Improvement of layout.

• Improvement in the use of men, materials and machines.

• Economy in human effort and reduction of unnecessary fatigue.

• Development of better working environment.

Procedure For Method Study
SELECT
Select the work worth studying and define the objectives to be achieved.
An objective may be to reduce the manufacturing cost, or to reduce
bottlenecks or to reduce fatigue incurred by the workers in order to
increase their efficiency.

RECORD
Record all the relevant information pertaining to the existing method (if
any) in details and in the form of a chart to obtain a more clear picture
about the same.

EXAMINE
Examine the recorded events critically and in sequence. Critical
examination involves answer to a number of questions. An activity can
be eliminated, simplified or combined with another.
DEVELOP
Develop the best method as resulted from critical examination and record
it. The aim here is to identify possible actions for improvement and to
subject these to evaluation in order to develop a preferred solution.

INSTALL
Install the (best) developed method or the improved method. Installation
involves three phases, namely-planning, arranging and implementing.

MAINTAIN
Maintain the new method, i.e., ensure the proper functioning of the
installed method by periodic checks and verifications.
Recording Techniques
 Macro Motion Charts

1.Operation Process Chart

• Also called Outline process chart.
• Bird’s eye view of whole process.
• Records only major activities and inspections.
• Uses only two symbols i.e. operations & inspection.
• Constructed by placing symbols one below another.

Uses
• Visualize sequence of operations & inspections in process.
• Know where operations selected fits into the entire process.
2. Flow Process Chart
• Gives sequence of flow of work.
• Operations, inspection, storage, delay and transportation are represented.
• Constructed same as operation process chart.
• Three types
Material type
Man type
Equipment type

Uses
• Reduce idle time and delays.
• Reduce distance travelled.
• Reduce production cycle time.
• To relocate inspection stages.
Standard Format Used for flow Process Chart:
3.Two handed process chart
• Most detailed type.
• Activities of workers hand recorded in relation to one another.
• Confined to work carried out at a single workplace.

Uses
• Visualize complete sequence of activities in repetitive task.
• Study work station layout.
Standard Format Used for Two Hand Process
Chart:
4.Multiple activity chart
• Activities of more than one subject each recorded.
• Common time scale to show inter-relationship.

Uses
• Study idle time.
• Determine no. of machines handled by one operator.
• Determine no. of operators required.
 Micro Motion Study
Suggested by Frank o Gilbreth
• Technique for recording and timing an activity.
• Divides human activities in a group of movements or micro motions (called
therblings).
• Helps to find best pattern of movements for an operator that consumes less time
and requires less effort.

Steps involved
• Filming the operation to be studied.
• Analysis of the data from the film.
SIMO Chart

SIMO = SImultaneous MOtion Chart

• Recording technique for Micro Motion study

• Simultaneous motions are filmed and recorded on a common time scale
and analyzed
• Therblings performed by different parts of body of one or more operators
recorded
• Expensive equipments required
• used when saving from study is high
 Diagram
1.Flow diagram
• Drawing of working area & showing location of various activities
• Shows the route
followed and selects the optimum one.
• Study different layout and selecting optimum one.
• Study traffic and frequency over different routes.

Procedure :
• Layout of workplace is drawn to scale.
• Relative positions of the m/c tools, storage & inspection benches are marked on the
scale.
• Path followed by the subject under study is tracked by drawing lines.
• Each movement is serially numbered & indicated by arrow for direction.
• Different colors are used to denote different types of movements.
2.String diagram
• Scale layout drawing.
• Length of a string is used to record extent & pattern of movements of a worker
within a limited area.
• Movements difficult to trace on flow diagram can be shown.
• Shows the route followed and selects the optimum one.
• Study different layout and selecting optimum one.
• Study traffic and frequency over different routes.

Procedure :
• A Layout of workplace is drawn to scale.
• Pins are fixed into boards to mark locations of workstations.
• Pins are also driven at turning points of the routes.
• A measured length of thread is taken to trace the movements.
• The distance covered by object is obtained by measuring the remaining part of the
thread and subtracting it from original length.
THANK YOU