MODAPTS Blog

MODAPTS Blog

9 Benefits of Using Time Study Training Across the Organization

The process of making a time study training analysis of normal human work standards for specific tasks has applications all across a manufacturing plant’s capacity for planning, for expansion and profits. Time standards deliver predictable manual process segments for tasks that can be measured to the second. This means that tasks such as part assemble, machine set-up, container loading, inventory tagging, or filling orders can have an accurate time-cost evaluation that is both predictive and dependable. Pre planning of plant capacity can be enhanced. The most efficient manual process can be safely designed and engaged utilizing the results of time studies. Accurate time standards for every day tasks can effectively save an enormous accumulation of time and money across every plant where the same tasks are being performed. Trained employees can effectively move from production plant to production plant as-needed for better delivery of predictive results. The Cumulative Benefits of Utilizing Time Standards When a company or manager can access accurate predictions of how long a task will genuinely take – they have enhanced their ability to establish consistently precise payment-rates for work performed. Utilization of predetermined time standards for setting work standards from time study performance is not new. The time study training tasks performed are broken down into measurable time components. These are more commonly referred to as work-elements. One frequently over-looked advantage for Pre-Determined Time Standards (PDTS) is that rates can be developed in laboratories ahead of time – while the product is still in the design stage. Determination of time standards breaks tasks and time into measured units: 1) Well-established calculations for standardized production times 2) Guaranteed expansion of plant production capacity 3) Across-the-board improvement of employee relationships 4) Accurate ability to create the time-unit costs for predicting budgets 5) Offers the ability to improve quality, performance and productivity 6) Eliminates wasteful processes, approaches and habits 7) Leaner functioning capacity leads to a “flattening” of company hierarchy 8) Across-the-enterprise increase in communication/cooperation 9) Increased worker trust, autonomy and cooperation The MODAPTS® system is a tool for analyzing human work. It helps establish realistic expectations for the time required for an average human to complete a specific task. The MODAPTS® system is comparable to most other time-standard systems except for the defining fact that the MODAPTS® system is less complex. Its simplicity of function and use incorporates the easiest to understand coding systems available. 

This simplicity of function and comprehension delivers dramatic cost savings and extremely accurate labor definitions that have earned it’s broad-market popularity. Once predetermined time standards are set for specific tasks – the process or tasks are assigned accurate time allotments. A dollar value for that time spent can be established. Dollar per task rates, (piece work standards ) can be set. Accurate quotes and cost estimations then become your norm. When utilizing predetermined time standards – lean-driven manufacturers experience enhanced ways to understand labor’s real-time impact for production costs.

MODAPTS Blog

Why Do We Do It That Way?

The age old story goes…The newly wed husband observes his wife cutting off the end of the ham and throws it away before she places the ham into the tray and into the oven. The husband asks her “Why do you do that?” The wife answers” I don’t know. That is how my mother always does it when she cooks a ham.” The husband then asks his mother in law, “Why do you cut off the end of the ham before placing it into the tray then into the oven. His mother in law replied, “I don’t know. I think to let the air filter thru the end of the ham when it is cooking. But that is the way my mother always use to cooked her ham.” So the husband asks his wife’s grandmother, “Why did you always cut off the end of the ham before you cooked it?” The grandmother answered, “Because my try was too small to hold the entire ham.” The point here is that in today’s world of manufacturing if you are still using a stop watch to set your production work standards you need to ask yourself “Why are we doing that?” The world is rapidly changing and manufacturing is very competitive. As engineers we must always believe there will always be a better way to make a mouse trap. As manufactures we always need to be reviewing our cost of production. One cost is our labor. Why use a stop watch to guess at what your production costs truly? Predetermined Time Systems are a great for work measurement and the setting of production standards have been in existence for a long time. Are you interested in learning more about how predetermined systems can be used to train and teach your employees? If so, contact us for more information. We have helped others, maybe we can help you too.

MODAPTS Blog

3 Steps to Designing a Work-Measurement Study

Work measurement studies are used to review task performance efficiencies, to review body effectiveness with movements and ergonomics, and to develop ways to code tasks so they can be repeated by others in the same, efficient ergonomic manner, taking almost exactly same amount of time. Work measurement studies improve your organization’s productivity and hence boost repeatability, reliability and profitability. Work-studies expose potential for greater efficiency as well as provide a way to approach, identify and increase effectiveness. If your organization does not already have a formal work measurement study process in place, the first thing to do before performing a study is: 1) Define the Study: Begin by asking your team clarifying questions such as: What are the study objectives? What is the purpose for the study? How will it be used? Describe your desired end-result? What stakeholders/departments/groups are involved? 2) Analyze the Current State of the Organization This includes a deeper review of your processes such as how does the company currently accomplish objectives? Other clarifying questions can include: What are your current staffing levels and turn-over rates? How effective are your existing policies & procedures? Is there any current data available from previous reviews or studies? 3) Design, Then Test the Study To begin designing your study, go back to the first steps and make use of the gathered information. Use your answers from questions from the first and second steps. Finally, run a test of the study and make any needed refinements. Why A Work Measurement Study? Everyone knows that time is money. Hopefully everyone in your organization believes there is “always a better way to make a mouse trap.” e.g., a more effective approach to any specific task. If not a work measurement study of the job performance needs to be conducted. Followed up with PJO (Periodic Job Observation). Tips for Deciding Look for and listen to what your people might be saying: “we have no clear idea what our production staff personnel are doing with their time” “we have a lot of people on the plant floor who seem to be sitting a lot or walking around a lot without doing any work” “we just take average of operators” to determine what the work standard should be” “we know how long it should take because the other widget is almost the same” Going Forward Many organizational leaders have been using MODAPTS because of the reliable times associated to each body part movement required to perform repeatable tasks. Based on the simple fact that larger body sections take longer amounts of time to move than smaller ones do, it also takes four times as long to move the whole arm outward to obtain a part vs. the use of only the fingers to turn a screw. Also a taller person can walk faster than a shorter person or larger people will take longer to do some tasks then a shorter person and vice-versa. These kinds of variables can become profoundly important when management is making a wage-labor decision and in certain cases has the option to hire a people with mental challenges who can perform a physical motion task just as well as an able-minded person, but for a lower per-hour cost. The MODAPTS work measurement system provides a fast, consistent method of determining a “fair day’s work” in manufacturing plants, offices, and rehabilitation centers. Next Steps The work measurement study is designed to help managers or owners of small or large enterprises learn how to create fast and reliable work measurement standards. The MODAPTS system describes work in human rather than mechanical terms. MODAPTS is simple to explain and easy to understand and is an effective ‘coaching tool’ workers can ponder when considering how best to co-operate in a team environment for the benefit of all. From this simple work study framework, MODAPTS has built an entire system of predetermined macro time standards that accurately predict and ergonomically enhance the performance of any job, task or chore in any company.

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