Module 6
Work Sampling
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Introduction
Work sampling was developed in England by L.Tippet in the
1930s. Labor standard is set using output and percentage (%)
of time worker spend on tasks. Involves observing worker at
random time over a long period.
Work sampling is a research technique where workers are
observed at random times and their activities recorded. The
data collected can be converted to percentages indicating the
overall distribution of how their time is spent in various
categories.
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Learning Objectives
Define work sampling.
Determine the need and procedure for
work sampling.
Determine the advantages and
disadvantages of work sampling.
Calculate work sampling.
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Need of Work Sampling
Need of work sampling
For efficient controlling/organization it is necessary
to have complete picture of production or non
production time of machine & workers in work area.
This can be done by direct and continuous
observation of shop floor
However, it would be impossible to do so unless large
number of people are employed which would be
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unrealistic
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Need of Work Sampling
Therefore, alternative approach is to have a
glance at the state of given shop floor at a
moment. Support we get 80% working & 20%
idle.
If this action is repeated at difference time
intervals during a day, we may say with some
confidence that at any time there will be 80%
machine working and 20% idle.
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Advantages of Work Sampling
Less expensive than time study
Observers need little training
Studies can be delayed or interrupted with little
impact on results
Worker has little chance to affect results
Less intrusive
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Disadvantages and Limitations
Not as accurate for setting time standards as other work
measurement techniques
Usually not practical to study a single subject
Work sampling provides less detailed information about
work elements than DTS or PMTS
Since work sampling deals with multiple subjects,
individual differences will be missed
Workers may be suspicious because they do not
understand the statistical basis of work sampling
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Disadvantages of Work Sampling
Does not divide work elements as completely as time
study
Can yield biased results if observer does not follow
random pattern
Less accurate than time study, especially when job
element times are short
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Work Sampling Procedure
The work sampling procedure can be summarized in five
steps:
1. Take a preliminary sample to obtain estimates of
parameter values
2. Compute the sample size required
3. Prepare a schedule for random observations at
appropriate times
4. Observe and record worker activities
5. Determine how workers spend their time
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Work Sampling Formula
To determine the number of observations required,
management must decide upon the desired confidence
level and accuracy.
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Typical case: Basis of work
sampling
For example, if 500 instantaneous observation taken at random
intervals over a few weeks show that a lathe operator was doing
productive work in 365 observations and in the remaining 135
observations he was found ‘idle’ for miscellaneous reasons.
Then it can be reliably taken that the operator remains idle
(135/500) X 100 = 27% of the time.
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Number of samples and
accuracy
The accuracy of the result depends on the number of
observations.
However, in most applications there is usually a limit
beyond which greater accuracy of data is not
economically worthwhile.
Work sampling can be very useful for establishing time
standards on both direct and indirect labor jobs.
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Sampling for standard time
Step 1. Define the problem
- Describe the job for which the standard time is to be
determined.
- Unambiguously state and discriminate activities of
operator on the job that would entitle him to be in
“working” state.
- This would imply that when operator will be found
engaged in any activity other than those required
would entitle him to be in “Not Working” state
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Sampling for standard time
Step 2. Design the sampling plan
- Estimate satisfactory number of observations to be made.
- Decide on the period of study, e.g. two days, one week, etc
- Prepare detailed plan for taking the observations.
- Plan will include observation schedule, exact method of
observing, design of observation sheet, route to be followed,
particular person to be observed at the observation time, etc.
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Sampling for standard time
Step 3. Contact the persons concerned and take them in
confidence regarding conduct of the study.
Step 4. Make the observations at the pre-decided random
times about the working/ not working state of the operator
- When operator is in working state, determine his
performance rating.
- Record these information on the observation sheet.
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Number of observation in w/s
Large number of observations results in more accurate
finding but the same time consuming and costly.
A cost – benefit the following methods are used for
estimation of the number of observations to be made.
Based on judgment. The study person can decide the
necessary number of observations based on his
judgment.
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Work Sampling Time Studies
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Work Sampling Time Studies
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Example
A work sampling study requires 95-percent confidence with five-
percent accuracy. How many observations are required if the
machine down time is eight percent?
n = (1.960)2*(1-0.08)*0.08/(0.05)2
n = 113.1observations
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Example
Assume that a study is made of an operation to determine the percentage of
time a worker or group of workers are working. The observations are made
at random, and a simple tally is made to indicate whether the operator was
working or idle when each observation was made. A sample of the resultant
tally of 60 observations made in a given day is given below.
State Total Percent
Working 49 81.7
Idle 11 18.3
Total 60 100
Determine the sample size with an accuracy of + 2%, and a confidence
level of 95%
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Example
A work-sampling was made of a cargo-loading
operation with the aim toward to developing a standard
time. During the total 160 minutes of observation the
worker was working 85% of the time and loaded 60
pieces of cargo. The performance was rated at 100%.
The company wants to incorporate a 10% allowance
factor for fatigue, delays, and personal time. What is the
standard time for this operation in minutes per piece?
ST = 2.27 x 1/(1 - .10) = 2.52 minutes per piece.
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Example
A work-study sample of a manufacturing activity
conducted over a 40-hour period shows that a worker
with an 85% rating produced 12 parts. The worker’s idle
time was 10% and the allowance factor was 12%
Find the Normal and Standard time for this activity.
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Example
The associate dean of the college of business at a technical school
has succumbed to faculty pressure to purchase a new fax machine,
although she has always contended that the machine would have
minimal use. She has estimated that the machine will be used only
20 percent of the time. Now that the machine has been installed, she
asked the students in the work measurement course to conduct a
work sampling study to see what the proportion of the time the new
fax machine is used. She wants the estimate to be within 3 percent
of the actual proportion, with a confidence level of 95 percent.
Determine the sample size for the work sample.
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Example
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Example
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Example
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Example
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Exercises
The National Bank of Zachary has opened up
two new drive-through teller windows outside
its main office building in downtown Zachary.
The bank is not sure that it needs both
windows open all days so it has decided to
conduct a work sampling study to 11:30 am
and 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The work sampling
study was conducted at random over a 5-day
period and the following observations were
recorded. Bank management wants the study
to be 5 percent accurate with a 95 percent
confidence level. How many additional sample
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observations should be taken?
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Exercises
A work sampling method is used to determine the proportion of the time a
worker is idle. The following information was gathered on a random basis.
Day No. Times Total No. Clerk Idle Observations
Monday 2 8
Tuesday 4 10
Wednesday 2 10
Thursday 4 12
If the manager wants a 95 percent confidence level and a degree of
precision
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of + 0.03, how many more observations are needed?
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Exercises
Sample observations of a claims processor made
over a 160-hour work month reveal that the worker
produced a total of 384 completed claims forms. The
performance rating was 80%. The worker was idle
20% of the time. The allowance factor is 8%. What
is the normal time per unit? What is the standard
time per unit?
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End of Module 6
Thanks for Listening!
by: Engr. Nomer M. Sarmiento
Engr. Jerald M. Fernandez
©2017 Batangas State University
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