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Frank and Lillian Gilbreth

Frank and Lillian Gilbreth made several important contributions to scientific management through their studies of time and motion. [1] They developed time and motion studies to analyze workflows and identify unnecessary motions, reducing motions in bricklaying from 18 to 4.5 motions per brick. [2] They invented the microchronometer to more accurately time motions studied with motion picture film. [3] They introduced the concept of therbligs as the smallest unit of work and studied worker fatigue to improve efficiency and productivity.

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195 views4 pages

Frank and Lillian Gilbreth

Frank and Lillian Gilbreth made several important contributions to scientific management through their studies of time and motion. [1] They developed time and motion studies to analyze workflows and identify unnecessary motions, reducing motions in bricklaying from 18 to 4.5 motions per brick. [2] They invented the microchronometer to more accurately time motions studied with motion picture film. [3] They introduced the concept of therbligs as the smallest unit of work and studied worker fatigue to improve efficiency and productivity.

Uploaded by

Farzana Akter 28
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Selected Topic: Contribution of Frank and Lillian Gilbreth

Name: Frank Bunker Gilbreth


Born: July 7, 1868.Fairfield, Maine
Died: June 14, 1924(Aged 55)
Montclaire, New Jersey
Employer: Purdue University

Name: Lillian Evelyn Moller Gilbreth


Born: May 24, 1878.Oakland, California.
Died: January 2, 1972 (Aged 93) Phoenix,
Arizona
0ccupaton: Ergonomics Expert Management
Consultant Professor
Introduction

Frank Bunker Gilbreth (July 7, 1868 – June 14, 1924) was an American engineer,
consultant, and author known as an early advocate of scientific management and a pioneer of
time and motion study and fatigue study. After passing the M.I.T entrance examinations, he
decided to enter the contracting business and starting his career as an apprentice bricklayer
with the firm of Whidden and Company.

Lillian an industrial psychologist focused on the human aspects of work and the
understanding of worker’s personalities and needs.

Frank and Lillian Gilbreth brought together two of the main streams of management. On one
hand, they followed the pioneering work in time and motion studies began by Fredrick
Winslow Taylor. On other hand they develop study of workplace psychology.

Contributions

 Time and motion Study

Time study measures how long it takes an average worker to complete a task at a normal
pace. Where Motion study is design to determine the best way to complete a repetitive task. It
involves the analysis of the basic hand, arm and body movements of workers as they perform
work. That means it measures the distance how much you move to do a job and how much
you get done in a period of time.

During the time of providing service, Gilbreth notice 3 sets of motions

 How to a person lay bricks


 How to work at a slow pace
 How work at a fast pace

Observing these and other variation in the motion patterns he tries to find out which motion
was the best and most efficient. From his interest, Gilbreth studied the motions used by the
men in relation to the work and tools used and he developed an improved method. For
example- In laying exterior brick, he reduced the number of motions from 18 to 4.5 per brick
laid and on interior brick he reduced the motion from 18 to 2,resulting in an increase of from
120 to 350 bricks per man Hour. The goal of this study was to eliminate unnecessary effort
used in the industry to as low as possible. Thus a way Gilbreth develops a more efficient and
less time consuming method of laying bricks.

 Use of Motion Picture Film and Invention of Microchronometer

In 1904, Gilbreth married Lillian moller who had a unique background in psychology and
management. In the course of their studies the Gilbreths invented and used many devices and
techniques. They use motion -picture films to analyze and improve motion sequence. Though
Gilbreth could study the film and analyze the motions but he was unable to determine how
long a motion took because the early cameras did not run at a constant speed and most of
them being hand cranked.

To overcome this handicap, Gilbreth invented the microchronometer, a clock with a large
sweeping hand,capable of recording time to 1/2000 of a minute. With this clock placed in the
field of work study being photographed and he could analyze each motion from the film and
could determine how long its performance required.

 Introduction Of Therbligs

Therbligs are any of a set of fundamental motions required for a worker to perform a manual
operation. It is a smallest unit of work. It predates the development of continuous quality
improvement (CQI).

Some example of therbligs:

Hold, position, transport loaded, Grasp, rest.

 Worker fatigue study

They also studied the fatigue of the workers. In conducting their Motion Study method to
work, they found that the key to improving work efficiency was in reducing unnecessary
motions. Not only were some motions unnecessary, but they caused employee fatigue. So
optimized movement was a new way of thinking where importance was given to the workers.
With optimized movements came less fatigue which in turn improved the productivity of the
worker.
 Scientific Management

The work of the Gilbreths is often associated with Frederick Winslow Taylor, and there was
some philosophical difference between the Gilbreths and Taylor. The symbol of Taylorism
was the stopwatch; Taylor was concerned primarily with reducing process times. The
Gilbreths, in contrast, sought to make processes more efficient by reducing the motions
involved.

 Other Contributions are


 Process chart, flow diagram, white list card
 Written instructions and meaningful word standards.
 Improving the totality of man and Working condition.
 To build sound incentive pay plans.
 Conclusion

It was the pioneering work of both Frank and Lillian Gilbreth that identified the inherent
synergy between time, motion, and fatigue to change the field forever. Their micro-motion
study will always be a stroke of brilliance which led to bleeding edge studies and deep
analyses of industrial engineering.

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