Time Study

[kaleem546]

I have done time study back home using some of the industrial engineering tools. Can anyone explain me in detail about the time study (performance measurement) methods, software used such as M.O.S.T. and from where I can get more information as I got to appear an interview for the position of Industrial Engineer next week.

Thanks a lot

Kaleem

 

[rkbelote]

http://www.hbmaynard.com/training/univmostprogram.asp

Look at the bottom section.

http://www.hbmaynard.com/training/basicmostcourse.asp

If you call them at 1-800-MAYNARD, you can request a white paper on what MOST is and how it is used.

 

[kublai]

hello everyone,

i work in a telecoms company and i was tasked to come up with a capacity plan (manpower plan) model for our retail stores. having been accustomed to capacity planning in a manufacturing setup i seem to be having some difficulty in its application in the service industry.guys, would you know of certain literatures that could help me understand this further (i.e. application in a service sector).

many thanks in advance.

kublai

 

[BML]

kublai,

I've found some success in transitioning between discrete manufacturing and service by trying to model the customers as "products". For example, customer A might need a lot of help picking a cell phone plan, then the phone, etc. Customer B wants a new phone and knows which one; customer C wants to upgrade plans. If you know how much time it takes to "build" (service) each "product" (customer), the "daily order size" (number of customers) for each "product", and the sequence of "stations" (service members), you should be able to construct the process flows and determine the staffing plan.

Good luck! Hope this helps!

 

[franklineng]

In this situation, would you not use a queuing model. If you know the number of customers, the average arrival rate and the service time. You could determine the number of counter help required.

 

[kublai]

thanks BML and franklineng for your inputs.a queuing study was really at the back of my mind from the start. however my boss cautioned me that the number of servers (staff members) that my model should generate (this model by the way is supposed to be applicable in all of our branches, i mean this should be generic not store-specific)should also consider the profitability of that store, its size and its location (whether in a mall or in a non-mall). truly not all customers that enter a store result to a sale. my boss is worried that the model may actually suggests a number that may not be cost-effective at all given a store's profitability as well as its size!Given all these factors to consider some tools come to mind but its not clear to me how they will interface (if at all possible) with the results of a queuing study.These tools are goal programming and multi criteria decision making.Are these tools appropriate?

tnx a lot.
kublai

 

[BML]

Decision theory won't give you "the answer". Instead, it will help you to understand the impact of the various inputs. Most of your model can be built the way franklineng or I have described. These will tend to seek to reduce the waiting time for the customers. Your boss is asking you to add another variable: given the store's profitability and environment, what is the appropriate amount of expected wait time per customer? Thus, for stores in low-population environments or with low profitability (fewer customers buying products/services), it may be more acceptable to have a longer average wait, and thus fewer staff.

Hope this helps!

 

[franklineng]

Has anyone one had experience with either MOST or Modapts? Which pre-determined standard time system is recommended as being quick to learn, implement, and widely used?

 

[rhdy]

You should receive training and certification for either, which is 4-5 days. I'm not sure on exact user numbers, but I think MOST is more widely used. There's only a few companies I've heard of that use Modapts.

I've been using MOST for 15 months and it is much simpler and quicker than time studies. No need to judge the operator or other outside factors. Very straight forward.

I will be getting trained in Modapts in the next couple months for a new job. From what I've seen on a couple websites, it's quite similar to MOST (same concept with index values). I even tried a simple task both ways and the times from each were very close.

I'll reply more about Modapts after training and using it.

 

[days]

I would recommend MOST over time study any time. I have used MOST in UK for the last 5 years. First in Ink Jet printer assembly and now in Electrical Dist Board assy including fabrication of enclosures, copper busbars, semi-auto assy, assy line etc.
The technique used is to video the operation and then analyse in the office.
The main advantage over time study is that you are forced to review the method and should impement any improvements discovered.
It also of great value for predetermining the manufacturing time (cost) of new or development products at prototype stage, which for obvious reasons cannot be measured using time study.
Steve Day

 

[Surfpac]

MOST all the way! Simple, easy to use, easy to learn.

 

[196402]

I know there is a company providing web-based work measurement software. I am currently using its LaborPro software for standard setup and feel it's great. Maybe it's also helpful to you. The web site is

http://www.osmec.com/SmartSoft/SOFTWARE.HTM