Work Sampling,

Confidence
Intervals, and
Sample Size in
Work
“Enhancing Study
Productivity Through Statistical Analysis”

PRESENTED BY : 22F-IN-29
22F-IN-30
22F-IN-31
WHAT IS WORK
SAMPLING
Work sampling is a way to check how people
or machines are spending their time by
observing them at random moments. It helps
to find out how much time is used for
productive work and how much is wasted,
without watching all the time. This method is
simple, saves time, and helps improve
efficiency.

EXAMPLES:
• Factory Workers: A manager randomly
checks workers on the production line at
different times to see if they are
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assembling products, taking breaks, or
waiting for materials.

• Office Employees: A supervisor observes

office staff at random moments to see if
they are working on reports, attending
TYPES OF WORK SAMPLING

Traditional Work Involves taking random samples of work activities at

Sampling predetermined intervals.

Stratified Work Involves dividing the work process into categories and
Sampling sampling within each category to improve accuracy

Automated Work Uses technology such as sensors and software to track and
Sampling sample work activities.
 STEPS IN WORK 01
Define
SAMPLING Objectives

• Define Objectives: Clearly state what you want

to achieve with the work sampling study, such as
improving productivity or reducing downtime. Collect and
Identify
analyze data
activities

05
• Identify Activities: List the tasks or activities to
be observed, like working, idle time, or 02
maintenance.

• Determine Sample Size: Decide how many STEPS IN W.S

observations are needed to get accurate results.

• Randomly Schedule Observations: Plan

observations at random times to ensure
unbiased data collection.
04 03
• Collect and Analyze Data: Record Randomly Schedule Determine sample size
observations, analyze the results, and make observations
decisions based on the findings.
CONFIDENCE
INTERVALS IN WORK
SAMPLING
A confidence interval in work sampling is a range of values that shows
where the true result is likely to be. It helps us estimate how accurate
our observations are and how much they might vary if we check again.

KEY COMPONENTS:

• Confidence Level (e.g., 95%) – This tells us how sure we are that
the true result falls within our estimated range. For example, a
95% confidence level means we are 95% sure our results are
correct within the given range.

• Margin of Error – This shows how much our result could change
due to small differences in the data. A smaller margin of error
means more accurate results.
 Why is Sample Size Important?

Sample size is important because it helps balance

accuracy and resources. A larger sample gives more
accurate results, but it takes more time and effort. A
smaller sample is easier to collect but might not give
reliable results.

1. POPULATION SIZE:
The total number of people or activities
being studied. A larger population
usually needs a bigger sample

2. DESIRED CONFIDENCE
LEVEL:
How sure we want to be about the
results (e.g., 95% confidence means we

DETERMINING want to be very sure)

3. ACCEPTIBLE MARGIN OF

SAMPLE SIZE ERROR:

How much error we are willing to accept
in the results. A smaller margin means
we need a larger sample.
 Menu About Us

PRACTICAL
APPLICATIONS OF WORK
SAMPLING
Manufacturing Healthcare Retail &
Industry Sector Service
• Evaluate machine • Analyze the time Industry
utilization and allocation of nurses and • Monitor staff activities
downtime. doctors across tasks. during peak and non-
peak hours.
• Identify bottlenecks in • Identify inefficiencies in
production processes. patient care processes. • Assess customer
service efficiency and
• Measure operator • Assess administrative queue management
efficiency and identify workload in healthcare
idle times. facilities.
 PROBLEM FOR WORK
SAMPLING
Scenario:
A manager observes a machine operator's
activities over a workday. Random observations
are made, and the following data is collected:
·Total observations (n): 50
·Observations of productive work (x): 35

Objective:
1.Calculate the proportion of time spent on
productive work ().
2.Estimate a 95% confidence interval for this
 CASE STUDY
A manufacturing company producing
automotive parts wanted to improve
worker productivity and identify areas of
ineffi ciency in their assembly line. The
goal was to understand how much time
employees spent on productive tasks
versus idle or non-productive activities.
Methodology:
The company used the work sampling technique, where observers conducted
random observations of employees at diff erent times throughout the day. The
following steps were taken:

1.Defi ning Objectives: The company aimed to reduce idle time and increase
production effi ciency.
2.Identifying Activities: Three main categories were tracked—productive
work, idle time, and indirect work (such as waiting for materials).
3.Sample Size Determination: Observations were made every 30 minutes
over a 2-week period, resulting in 500 data points.
4.Random Observations: Observers collected data at diff erent times of the
day to ensure randomness.
5.Data Analysis: Results were compiled and analyzed to calculate the
percentage of time spent on each activity
Findings:
• Productive Work: 70% of total observations.
• Idle Time: 20% of total observations, mainly due to
machine downtime and waiting for materials.
• Indirect Work: 10% of total observations, including tasks
such as cleaning and paperwork.

Solutions Implemented:
• Improved material fl ow to reduce waiting time.
• Scheduled preventive maintenance to minimize machine
downtime.
• Provided additional training to workers to enhance
effi ciency
 RESULTS
After implementing the changes,
productive work increased to
85%, and idle time was reduced
to 10%, leading to a 15% boost in
overall productivity and cost
savings for the company.
 Provides in sigh ts
in to system- level
in effi c ien c ies

Scalabl e for large

ADVANTAGE
organ ization s

S OF WORK Cost-eff ective

SAMPLING compared to time

studies

Hel ps i denti fyi ng

pi npoi nt areas
where ti me i s
wased
 CHALLENGES &
LIMITATIONS IN WORK
SAMPLING
01 02 03 04

Planning and setting The person collecting Since data is collected Workers may change
up observations can data might randomly, it may not how they work when
take time and effort. accidentally influence fully represent the they know they are
the results. actual work. being observed.
CONCLUSION & BEST PRACTICES
• Work Sampling is an effective and
practical tool for improving operational
efficiency.

• Best practices include random sampling,

calculating appropriate sample sizes, and
interpreting results carefully.

• Combining work sampling with other work

study techniques can provide more robust