1.) Define Time Study? What are the objectives of it?

Explain the step by

step procedure of it?
Time study is a method of work measurement for setting basic times and hence
standard times for carrying out specified work.The aim of time study is to establish a
time for a qualified worker to perform specified work under stated conditions and at a
defined rate of working. It is a structured process of directly observing and measuring
human work using a timing device to establish the time required for completion of the
work by a qualified worker when working at a defined level of
performance. The requirements to carry out Time study is
 the practitioner (observer) must be fully qualified to carry out Time Study,
 the person performing the task must be fully trained and experienced in the work,

 the work must be clearly defined and the method of doing the work must be
effective
 the working conditions must be clearly defined

The objective of time study is to determine by direct observation, the quantum of

human work in a specified task and hence to establish the standard time, within which
an average worker working at a normal pace should complete the task using a
specified method. Other objectives include:
1. To compare alternative methods in motion study in order to select the best method.
2. To fix a fair output rate for workers
3. To furnish a basis of comparison for determining operating effectiveness.
4. To set labour standard for satisfactory performance.
5. To balance the work of operators in production or assembly lines.
6. To set the completion schedule for individual operations or jobs.
7. To determine the cycle time for completion of a job.
The procedure for time study can best be described:
1: Define objective of the study. This involves statement of the use of the result, the
precision desired, and the required level of confidence in the estimated time standards.

2: Verify that the standard method and conditions exist for the operation and the
operator is properly trained. If need is felt for method study or further training of
operator, the same may be completed before starting the time study.
3: Select operator to be studied if there are more than one operator doing the same
task.
4: Record information about the standard method, operation, operator, product,
equipment, and conditions on the Time Study observation sheet.
5: Divide the operation into reasonably small elements, and record them on the Time
Study observation sheet.
6: Time the operator for each of the elements. Record the data for a few number of
cycles on the Time Study observation sheet. Use the data to estimate the total number
of observations to be taken.
7: Collect and record the data of required number of cycles by timing and rating the
operator.
8: Calculate the representative watch time for each element of operation. Multiply it by
the rating factor to get normal time. Normal time = Observed time X
rating factor.Calculate the normal time for the whole operation by adding the normal
time of its various elements.
9: Determine allowances for fatigue and various delays.
10: Determine standard time of operation.
Standard time = Normal time + allowances

2.) Define an element? What are different types of elements used in Time
study? What is the significance of breakdown of work cycle into
various elements?
An element is a distinct part of a specified job selected for convenience of observation,
measurement and analysis.
Types of element:
Eight types of element are distinguished: repetitive, occasional, constant, variable,
manual, machine, governing, and foreign elements. The definition of each is
listed below, together with examples:
 A repetitive element is an element which occurs in every work cycle of an
operation. Examples: the element of picking up a part prior to an
assembly operation; the element of locating a workpiece in a holding device; putting
aside a finished component or assembly.

 An occasional element is an element which does not occur in every work cycle of an
operation but which may occur at regular or irregular intervals. Examples: adjusting
the tension, or machine setting; receiving instructions from the supervisor. The
occasional element is useful work and a part of the job. It will be incorporated in the
final standard time for the job.
 A constant element is an element for which the basic time remains constant
whenever it is performed. Examples: switch on machine; gauge diameter; screw on
and tighten nut; insert a particular cutting tool into machine.

 A variable element is an element for which the basic time varies in relation to some
characteristics of the product, equipment or process, e.g. dimensions, weight,
quality, etc. Examples: saw logs with handsaw (time varies with hardness
and diameter); sweep floor (varies with area); push trolley of parts to next shop
(varies with distance).
 A manual element is an element performed by a worker.

 A machine element is an element performed automatically by any process,

physical, chemical or otherwise that, once started, cannot be influenced by a worker
except to terminate it prematurely. Examples: anneal tubes, fire tiles; form glass
bottles; press car body shell to shape; most actual cutting elements on machine
tools.
 A governing element is an element occupying a longer time within a work cycle than
that of any other element which is being performed concurrently. Examples: turn
diameter on a lathe, while gauging from time to time; boil kettle of water, while
setting out teapot and cups; develop photographic negative, while agitating the
solution occasionally.
 A foreign element is an element observed which does not form a part of the
operation(s) being studied. Examples: in furniture manufacture, sanding the edge of
a board before planing has been completed; degreasing a part that has still to
be machined further.
A detailed breakdown into elements is necessary:
(1) To ensure that productive work (or effective time) is separated from unproductive
activity (or ineffective time).
(2) To permit the rate of working to be assessed more accurately than would be possible
if the assessment were made over a complete cycle. The operative may not work at the
same pace throughout the cycle, and may tend to perform some elements more quickly
than others.
(3) To enable the different types of element (see below) to be identified
and distinguished, so that each may be accorded the treatment appropriate to its type.
(4) To enable elements involving a high degree of fatigue to be isolated and to make the
allocation of fatigue allowances more accurate.
(5) To facilitate checking the method so that the subsequent omission or insertion of
elements may be detected quickly. This may become necessary if at a future date the
time standard for the job is queried.
(6) To enable a detailed work specification (see Chapter 28) to be produced.
(7) To enable time values for frequently recurring elements, such as the operation of
machine controls or loading and unloading workpieces from fixtures, to be extracted
and used in the compilation of standard data

3.) Compare cumulative timing with flyback timing method used for time
study.

Cumulative Timing Fly back Timing

The watch runs continuously throughout the The watch does not run continuously throughout
study the study
It is started at the beginning of the first It is stopped and started at beginning and end of
element of the cycle to be timed and is not each element
stopped until the whole study is completed
The time for each element is not obtained The time for each element is obtained directly
directly
Even if an element is missed or some If an element is missed or some occasional
occasional activity is not recorded , it will not activity is not recorded , it will affect the overall
affect the overall time time

4.) What are different types of allowances used in Time Study? Explain the
significance of it?
Allowances in time study can be defined as the extra time figures which are to be added
to the basic time of an operation for personnel desires, delays, fatigue of operators, any
special situation and the policies of the firm or organization. Standard time of a job is
obtained by adding various allowances to the basic or normal time of the job.

These allowances are considered or provided to compensate the worker/operator for

the production interruptions that may occur due to his personnel legitimate needs or
the factors beyond his controls. For example, the delay may occur due
to operators personnel needs such as drinking water, taking tea, going to toilet etc.,
unavoidable delays like waiting for tools, materials or equipment, maintenance of
machine and periodic inspection of parts or materials.

The fundamental purpose of allowances is to add enough time to the basic time of the
production in order to enable the average worker to meet the standard while
performing at a normal pace.

The different types of allowances are as follows:

A. Relaxation Allowance
B. Contingency Allowances
C. Special Allowances

Relaxation Allowance:
Relaxation allowance is an addition to the basic time intended to provide the worker
with the opportunity to recover from the physiological and psychological effects of
carrying out specified work under specified conditions and to allow attention to personal
needs.
Relaxation allowances can be further sub-divided into two categories
1. Fixed Allowances 2.  Variable Allowances

Fixed Allowances:
Fixed allowances consist of the allowances given for personnel needs or desire. These
personnel need includes going for watching getting a drink etc. It is also agreed that
women need more personnel time than man. The usual percentage of the personnel
allowances is 5% for male workers and 7% for women. It also includes the allowances for
the basic fatigue. This allowance is given to take account of the energy expanded during
work and to remove the monotony. Usually, it is taken as 4% a worker who carried out
the job while seated, who is engaged in a light work under good working conditions and
makes only the normal use of hands, legs and his senses.

Variable Allowances:

These allowances are added to fixed allowances when working conditions differ
markedly from those stated above. The following may be the reasons
 Standing
 Weightlifting applications.
 Light conditions.
 Abnormal posture or position.
 Visual strains.
 Air conditions or availability.
 Aural strenes.
 Mental stress.
 Mental monotony.
 Physical monotony.
B. Contingency Allowances:

It is also known as delay allowance. It accounts for some other contingencies such as
unexpected work as well. “A contingency allowance is an allowance of time that is to be
added in normal time or to be included in standard time to meet the legitimate and
unexpected items of work or delays, the precise measurement of which is not
economical due to their irregular and infrequent nature of occurrences.”

C. Special Allowances:
As the name suggests, these allowances are added for some special conditions. Most of
these allowances are temporary and are taken out as soon as conditions normalise.
These include the following:
(a) Start up, shut down, and tooling:
These allowances are given per work period. These allowances compensate for the time
loss during cleaning and tooling periods and the shut down at the end of the work
period.
(b) Setup and change over:
These types of allowances are provided when a new type of product is started. There
includes the time taken in set up of machine. Dismantling the previous work piece or
tool for new set up is also included in it as the worker is forced to be idle when the
new set up is mounted or the previous one is being withdrawn.
(c) Rejection reworks and excess work:
A rejection allowance is provided to compensate for rejection of work. This product
rejection is inherent in much process because of come uncontrollable factors. Reworks
also present this similar picture. So, these allowances are added for certain conditions
when the work is not being done under standard conditions and some excess work
results.
(d) Learning, training and implementation:

And the name suggests, these allowances are given to the trainees before they acquire
full ability to perform a task within the actual standard time. Some of the workers are
engaged in implant training of new operatives and thus some of their production time is
lost in this process. Thus, at this stage, training allowances are added.
Third is the implementation allowance, which is given to the workers when they are
encouraged to work on some new processes. It is provided to achieve the whole-hearted
co-operation from the workers to new methods or processes without any fear of loss of
their earning. All the above-mentioned allowances are temporary in nature.
2. Policy Allowances:

Policy allowance is not a part of time study. It can be permanent or temporary in nature.
It is applied according to the policy of the firm in which the time standard is to be
applied. Policy allowance is given to honour the wage agreements that are made by the
employers with the trade unions.
A policy allowance can be defined as follows:

“It is an increment (other than the bonus increment) applied to the standard time to
achieve a satisfactory level of earnings for a particular level of performance under the
exceptional circumstances.”

A policy allowance can be added as a temporary factor to compensate for any

imperfections in the functioning of a firm but, in this situation, it should be withdrawn as
soon as the condition normalises. So, the policy allowances should be added with due
caution and under well-defined circumstances.