King Saud University

College of Engineering
Department of Industrial Engineering

Homework #6: Time Study

1. The continuous stopwatch timing method was used to obtain the observed times
for a worker-machine task. Only one cycle was timed. The data are recorded in
the table below.

Worker element Time (min) PR Machine element Time (min)

a (1.24) 1.24 100%
b (3) 4.24 120% c (3.3) 4.54
d (0.55) 5.09 80%

Elements a, b, and d are worker controlled elements. Element c is machine

controlled element. Elements a and d are external to the machine controlled
element, while element b is internal to the machine controlled element. Every four
cycles, there is an irregular worker element that takes 1.32 min performance
rated at 100%. The PFD allowance is 15% and the machine allowance is 30%.
Determine:
a. The normal time for the cycle.
b. The standard time for the cycle.
c. If a worker’s efficiency is 100%, how many units would be produced in one
8-hour shift?
d. If the actual time worked during the shift was 6.86 hours, and a worker’s
performance rating was 125%, how many units would have been
produced?

Sol: (38 points)

a. Tn = [1.24 * 1 + 0.55 * 0.8 + (1.32 / 4) * 1] + Max {(3 * 1.2) & 3.3} = 5.61 min

b. Tstd = 2.01(1 + 0.15) + + Max {(3.6 (1 + 1.5) & 3.3 (1 + 0.3)} = 6.6015 min

c. Qs = 8 (60) / 6.6015 = 72.71  72 units

d. Tobs = 2.01 / 1.25 + Max {(3.6 / 1.25) & 3.3} = 4.908 min

Qact = 6.86 (60) / 4.908 = 83.86  83 units

2. The snapback timing method in direct time study was used to obtain the times for
a worker-machine task. The recorded times are listed in the table below.

Element a b c d e f
Observed time (min) 0.14 0.25 0.18 0.45 0.2 0.62

Element d is a machine controlled element and the time is constant. Elements a,

b, c, e, and f are operator controlled and were performance rated at 90%.
Element f is an irregular element, performed every five cycles. The operator
controlled elements are all external to the machine controlled element d. The
machine allowance is zero, and the PFD allowance is 13%. Determine:

Tamer M Khalaf, PhD Page 1 of 4 Monday, 16 April, 2012

 King Saud University
College of Engineering
Department of Industrial Engineering

a. The normal time for the cycle.

b. The standard time for the cycle.
If a worker’s actual time spent working during an 8-hour shift was 7.08 hours, and
400 units of output were produced during this time. Determine:
c. The worker’s performance rating during the operator-controlled portions of
the cycle.
d. The worker’s efficiency during this shift.

Sol: (31 points)

a. Tn = {[0.14 + 0.25 + 0.18 + 0.2 + (0.62 / 5)] * 0.9} + 0.45 = 1.2546 min

b. Tstd = 0.8046 (1 + 0.13) + 0.45 = 1.359198 min

c. Tobs-cycle = 7.08 (60) /400 = 1.062 min

Tobs-worker = 1.062 - 0.45 = 0.612 min
PR = (0.8046 / 0.612) * 100 = 131.47 %

d. Qs = 8 (60) / 1.359198 = 353.149  353 units

 = (400 / 353) * 100 = 113.3 %

3. For a worker-machine task, the continuous timing method was used to obtain the
times indicated in the table below.

Element a b c d e
Observed time (min) 0.3 0.65 1.65 1.9 2.5
0.3 0.35 1 1.25 0.6

Element c is a machine controlled element and the time is constant. Elements a,

b, d, and e are operator controlled and were performance rated at 100%.
Element d is performed simultaneously with element c. The machine allowance is
16%, and the PFD allowance is 16%. Determine:
a. The normal time for the cycle.
b. The standard time for the cycle.
If an operator worked at 140% of standard performance during actual production
and two parts were produced each cycle, determine:
c. The number of parts produced if the total time worked during an 8-hour
shift was 7.4 hours.
d. The worker’s efficiency for this shift.

Sol: (38 points)

a. Tn = 0.3 + 0.35 + 0.6 + Max {1.25 & 1} = 2.5 min

b. Tstd = 1.25 (1 + 0.16) + Max {1.25 (1 + 0.16) & 1 * (1 + 0.16)} = 2.9 min

c. Tobs-cycle = (1.25 / 1.4) + Max {(1.25 / 1.4) & 1} = 1.893 min

Ncycle-act = [7.4 (60) / 1.893] = 234.548  234 cycles
Qact = 2 * 234 = 468 parts

d. Ncycle-std = [8 (60) / 2.9] = 165.517  165 cycles

Qs = 2 * 165 = 330 parts
 = (468 / 330) * 100 = 141.8 %

Tamer M Khalaf, PhD Page 2 of 4 Monday, 16 April, 2012

 King Saud University
College of Engineering
Department of Industrial Engineering

4. For a certain repetitive task, the snapback timing method was used to obtain the
average work element times and performance ratings listed in the table below.

Work element a b c d e
Observed time (min) 0.47 0.58 0.7 0.75 2.1
Performance rating 90% 80% 110% N/A 85%

Elements a, b, and c are worker controlled elements. Element d is machine

controlled element and its time is the same each cycle (N/A means performance
rating is not applicable). Element c is performed while the machine is performing
its cycle (element d). Element e is a worker controlled irregular element
performed every five cycles. The machine is idle during elements a, b, and e.
One part is produced each cycle. The machine allowance is 15%, and the PFD
allowance is 15%. Determine:
a. The normal time for this cycle.
b. The standard time for this cycle.
If a worker’s performance rating during actual production was 130% and the
actual time spent working during an 8-hour shift was 7.3 hours, determine:
c. The number of units produced.
d. The worker’s efficiency.

Sol: (41 points)

a. Tn = {0.47 * 0.9 + 0.58 * 0.8 + [(2.1 / 5) * 0.85]} + Max {(0.7 * 1.1) & 0.75} =
2.014 min

b. Tstd = 1.244 (1 + 0.15) + Max {(0.77 (1 + 0.15) & 0.75 (1 + 0.15)} =

2.3161 min

c. Tobs-cycle = (1.244 / 1.3) + Max {(0.77 / 1.3) & 0.75} = 1.706923 min
Qact = 7.3 (60) / 1.706923 = 256.6012  256 parts

d. Qs = 8 (60) / 2.3161 = 207.2449  207 parts

 = (256 / 207) * 100 = 123.67 %

5. The work element times for a repetitive work cycle are listed in the table below,
as determined in a direct time study using the snapback timing method.

Work element a b c d
Observed time (min) 0.75 0.30 1.62 1.05

Elements a and b are operator controlled elements. Element c is machine

controlled element and its time is constant. Element d is a worker controlled
irregular element performed every ten cycles. Elements a and b were
performance rated at 90%, and element d was performance rated at 75%. The
worker is idle during element c, and the machine is idle during elements a, b, and
d. One product unit is produced each cycle. A 15% allowance factor is applied to
the total cycle time.
a. Determine the standard time for this cycle.
If a worker produced 190 units in an 8-hour shift during which 7 hours were
actually worked, determine:

Tamer M Khalaf, PhD Page 3 of 4 Monday, 16 April, 2012

 King Saud University
College of Engineering
Department of Industrial Engineering

b. The worker's efficiency.

c. The worker’s performance rating during the operator paced portion of the
cycle.

Sol: (28 points)

a. Ts = {[(0.75 + 0.3) * 0.9] + [(1.05/10) * 0.75] + 1.62} * (1 + 0.15) = 3.04 min

b. Qs = 8 (60) / 3.04 = 157.88  157 units

 = (190 / 157) * 100 = 121.02 %

c. Tobs-cycle = 7 (60) / 190 = 2.210526 min

Tobs-worker = 2.210526 – 1.62 = 0.590526 min
Tn-worker = [(0.75 + 0.3) * 0.9] + [(1.05/10) * 0.75] = 1.02375
PR = (1.02375 / 0.590526) * 100 = 173.36 %

Tamer M Khalaf, PhD Page 4 of 4 Monday, 16 April, 2012