Evolution Of Time Studies Essay

1. Evolution of Time Studies
I. Initiation of Time Studies
Fredrick W. Taylor’s body of work on time studies to improve manufacturing efficiency was so advanced, he is considered to be the father of time studies. Although he did not invent time studies, he promoted the idea of scientific management for the manufacturing industry in the early 1900s. The use of time studies can be traced back to 1760 when Jean Rodolphe Perronet, a French engineer, conducted an extensive time study on the manufacturing of No. 6 common pins. Perronet establish the standard of making 494 pins per hour (2.0243 hours/ 1000 pins). Later in 1820, Charles W. Babbage, an English economist, performed a time study on the manufacturing of No. 11 common pins. Babbage concluded that 5,546 pins should be made in 7.6892 hours (1.386 hours/ 1000 pins). Babbage published his book “On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures” in 1832 (Niebel, Freivalds 2014).
In 1881, Taylor (pictured below) started his time study efforts. Taylor’s journey to this point was unusual. He came from a wealthy family and had chance to attend Harvard University, but instead started as an apprentice at a machine shop. Later he began his career at Midvale Steel Works as a laborer, and moved up to time clerk, journeyman, lathe operator, gang boss, and foreman of the machine shop. During this time Taylor became interested in the proper method to do the certain jobs and what was considered a fair day’s work for the men under his supervision. He also studied at night and obtained a mechanical engineering degree at this time. (Barnes, 1963)
It took 12 years to perfect his system. His system was based on tasks and that each worker’s assignments should be pre-planned by management. Each job shoul...

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... The use of work sampling can supplement the use of time studies and save time and resources. Human factors have had a tremendous influence on work design. Ergonomics plays a major role in the ways industrial engineers design the work to fit the human operators. In doing so, they can elevate the worker’s well-being and the entire system performance. A time study is still a useful tool with the goal of increasing efficiency that should include the additional objective of providing a safe and healthy work environment. (Muchinsky 2009)

Additional References:
Karger, Delmar W. (1987). Engineered Work Measurement. New York, NY: Industrial Press, www.mtm.org./index.asp Nicholas, John, Soni, Avi. (2006). The Portal to Lean Production. Boca Raton, NY: Auerach Publications.
Muchinsky, Paul M. (2009). Psychology Applied to Work. Summerfield, NC: Hypergraphic Press Inc.