timestudies

Timestudies, commonly referred to as time studies in industrial engineering, are systematic methods for determining the amount of time required for a task to be performed at a specified level of performance. They are used to establish standard times that support planning, scheduling, wage setting, and process improvement.

Typically, a time study breaks a task into elemental motions, records the duration of several complete cycles with a stopwatch, and analyzes the data to produce an observed time. The analyst may rate the worker’s performance relative to a standard pace, yielding a normal time by adjusting the observed time by this rating. Standard time is then obtained by adding allowances for fatigue, personal needs, and delays, providing a time value suitable for planning and cost estimation. Because tasks vary, data are often collected from multiple cycles and subjected to basic statistical treatment to reflect uncertainty.

Time-study methods include the traditional stopwatch technique and, as alternatives, predetermined motion time systems (PMTS) such as MTM and MOST, which estimate task times from basic motion elements. Modern practice may supplement or replace manual timing with data collected by sensors, video analysis, and software that automate timing and data logging.

Applications span manufacturing, logistics, and service operations, where standard times support workload balancing, capacity planning, performance measurement, and incentive schemes. Time studies contribute to process improvement by identifying bottlenecks and guiding method study, but face criticisms about observer effects, task variability, and potential impacts on worker morale. Ethical use requires transparency and safeguards to ensure fairness and accuracy.