FACT SHEET

CATEGORY: 2.5 JOB DESIGN RECORDING TECHNIQUES

USED IN METHOD STUDY

See also:
Job Design
Method Study

INTRODUCTION

Method study uses formal techniques to record the sequence of activities, the time
relationship between different activities, the movement of materials and the movement of
staff.

The main techniques used for recording the time relationships between parts are:

- Multiple-activity charts
- Simo charts

The main techniques that are used to record movement are:

- Memo-motion analysis
- Micro-motion analysis
- Flow diagrams

The most commonly used technique is the flow process chart. There are three types of
process charts:

- Outline process charts

- Flow process charts
- Two-handed process charts

Process charts use five symbols to describe tasks as: operation, inspection, transportation,
delay and storage. The symbols have marginally different meanings for each type. The
figure shown below presents the symbols and their meanings in each process chart type.

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Figure Symbols used in process charts

Flow Flow Two-handed

Outline process process process
process chart chart
Symbol
chart
chart (for (for materials)
personnel)

Operation Operation Operation Operation

Not used Transportation Transportation

Transportation

Not used Delay Delay Delay

Inspection Inspection Inspection Inspection

Not used Not used Storage Hold

TIME RELATIONSHIP TECHNIQUES

There are two main techniques used to describe the time relationship between different parts
of the job, namely Multiple-activity charts and Simo charts.

Multiple-activity charts are used to record activities for each resource (operator or machine)
using the same time scale. This helps to make time comparisons easy.

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Figure: Example of a Multi-activity chart for a two operator team setting up a machin

Operator 1 Operator 2 Machine

Get new Remove Existing tool

tool existing tool on machine
Assist
removal
Take old Load new Setting up
tool back to tool Tool and Time
adjustments

Transport Measure
material and adjust

Trial run Trial run Running

Production
operation

Simo charts. These charts are basically combinations of multi-activity charts and two-handed
charts. They show a multi activity chart for each hand of a two-handed process.

Figure Simo chart

Left hand Time in Right hand
0
Pick up w/piece
wait
0.1
Operation
XXXX
0.
Operation
Hold YYYY
w/piec 0.3
Operation ZZZZ
wait 0.

0.5
Hold
tool
0.6
wait
0.7
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PATH OF MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES

These techniques are used to record movement of resources such as staff, materials, tools,
etc. Two frequently used techniques are:

1. Memo-motion video recording:

This technique utilises video recordings of activities. Fast play-back of the recording
can compress hours of activity into minutes a provide data for charts

2. Micro-motion analysis:

This technique also utilises video recordings but examines movement details by
slowing down play-backs

Internet Resources

www.manu-online.co.uk
The website for the Manufacturing Institute. The Manufacturing Institute is an educational
charity, focused on the research, expansion and dissemination of knowledge of best practice
in manufacturing and is a partnership between the North West’s leading manufacturing
companies and universities.

www.lmu.ac.uk/
This is the website for the Leeds Metropolitan University where there is information on
Method Study and other related topics.

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