Exam 7: Work Design and Measurement

A methods and measurements analyst needs to develop a time standard for a certain task. In a preliminary study, he observed one of his workers perform this task five times, with the following results: Observation 1 2 3 4 5 Time (seconds) 84 76 80 84 76 How many observations should be made if the analyst wants to be 99.74 percent confident that the maximum error in the observed time is two seconds? Assume that the standard deviation of each task time is four seconds.

Work measurement concentrates on how long the tasks take to accomplish.

The most widely used method of work measurement is work sampling.

The manager of Lawn and Garden Services would like to estimate the proportion of her employees' time spent performing various gardening and lawn care activities. She has made 400 random observations of a typical worker, with the following results: Activity Times Observed Mowing 200 Trimming 80 Raking 40 Miscellaneous 80 What is the most likely true proportion of time spent mowing?

Asking a group of employees at a particular level to take on more responsibility is a form of ___________ loading, also known as job __________.

In work sampling, how will increasing the permissible maximum error affect sample size?

The design of work systems typically involves: (I) work measurement. (II) job design. (III) compensation. (IV) the use of outside consultants.

One therblig is the equivalent of one hour of sustained work by one average person.

In a stopwatch time study, the number of cycles that must be timed is a function of: (I) the variability of observed times. (II) the desired accuracy for the estimated job time. (III) the desired confidence for the estimated job time.

Predetermined time standards use historical data from a company's own files.

What is the effect of an increase in the desired confidence level on the number of observations necessary in a time study?

Trust is a factor influencing productivity.

Predetermined time standards are usually based on observing one very efficient worker performing the task.

Methods analysis and motion study techniques develop which aspects of jobs?

The manager of Lawn and Garden Services would like to estimate the proportion of her employees' time spent performing various gardening and lawn care activities. She has made 400 random observations of a typical worker, with the following results: Activity Times Observed Mowing 200 Trimming 80 Raking 40 Miscellaneous 80 Between what limits can the manager be 68.26 percent confident about the true proportion of time spent mowing?

Giving a worker a larger portion of the total task is known as job:

One of the potential benefits of self-directed teams is higher productivity and greater worker satisfaction.

A methods and measurements analyst for Digital Devices needs to develop a time standard for the task of assembling a computer mouse. In a preliminary study, she observed one of her workers perform this task six times with the following results: Observation 1 2 3 4 5 6 Time (seconds) 46 38 40 34 42 40 What is the standard time for this task if the employee worked at a 20 percent faster pace than average and an allowance of 25 percent of the workday is used?

One important factor that influences productivity is trust between workers and managers.

A methods and measurements analyst for Timepiece, Inc., needs to develop a time standard for the task of attaching a watch to a wristband. In a preliminary study, he observed one of his workers perform this task five times, with the following results: Observation 1 2 3 4 5 Time (seconds) 27 19 20 21 13 How many observations should be made if he wants to be 95.44 percent confident that the maximum error in the observed time is one second? Assume that the standard deviation of the task time is five seconds.