Design of Work Systems

LEARNING OBJECTIVESExplain the importance of work design. Briefly describe the two basic approaches to job design. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of specialization. Explain the term knowledge-based pay. Explain the purpose of methods analysis and describe how methods studies are performed. Describe four commonly used techniques for motion study.

JOB DESIGNJob design involves specifying the content and methods of a jobWhat will be doneWho will do the jobHow the job will be doneWhere the job will be doneErgonomics: Incorporation of human factors in the design of the workplace

DESIGN OF WORK SYSTEMSSpecializationBehavioral approaches to job designMotivationsTeamsMethods analysisMotions studyWorking conditions

JOB DESIGN SUCCESSSuccessful job design must be:Carried out by experienced personnel with the necessary training and backgroundConsistent with the goals of the organizationIn written formUnderstood and agreed to by both management and employees

SPECIALIZATION IN BUSINESS: ADVANTAGES Low education andskill requirementsresponsibilitiesLittle mental effortTable 7.1

SPECIALIZATION IN BUSINESS: DISADVANTAGES1. Monotonous work2. Limited opportunitiesfor advancement3. Little control over work4. Little opportunity forTable 7.1

BEHAVIORAL APPROACHES TO JOB DESIGNJob EnlargementGiving a worker a larger portion of the total task by horizontal loadingJob RotationWorkers periodically exchange jobsJob EnrichmentIncreasing responsibility for planning and coordination tasks, by vertical loading

MOTIVATION AND TRUSTMotivationInfluences quality and productivityContributes to work environmentTrustInfluences productivity and employee-management relations

TEAMSBenefits of teamsHigher qualityHigher productivityGreater worker satisfactionSelf-directed teamsGroups are empowered to make certain changes in their work process

METHODS ANALYSISMethods analysisAnalyzing how a job gets doneBegins with overall analysisMoves to specific details

METHODS ANALYSISChanges in tools and equipmentChanges in product design or new productsChanges in materials or proceduresOther factors (e.g. accidents, quality problems)The need for methods analysis can come from a number of different sources:

METHODS ANALYSIS PROCEDUREIdentify the operation to be studiedGet employee inputStudy and document current methodAnalyze the jobPropose new methodsInstall new methodsFollow-up to ensure improvements have been achieved

SELECTING AN OPERATIONSelecting a job to study:High labor contentDone frequentlyUnsafeTiringUnpleasantNoisyDesignated problem

ANALYZING THE JOBFlow process chartChart used to examine the overall sequence of an operation by focusing on movements of the operator or flow of materialsWorker-machine chartChart used to determine portions of a work cycle during which an operator and equipment are busy or idle

Movement InspectionFigure 7.2

MOTION STUDYMotion study is the systematic study of the human motions used to perform an operation.

MOTION STUDY TECHNIQUESMotion study principles: guidelines for designing motion-efficient work proceduresAnalysis of therbligs: basic elemental motions into which a job can be broken downMicromotion study: use of motion pictures and slow motion to study motions that otherwise would be too rapid to analyzeChartsTherbligs

DEVELOPING WORK METHODSEliminate unnecessary motionsCombine activitiesReduce fatigueImprove the arrangement of the workplaceImprove the design of tools and equipment

THERBLIGSTherbligs: Basic elemental motions that make up a job.SearchSelectGraspHoldTransport loadRelease load

WORKING CONDITIONS

WORKING CONDITIONS

WORK MEASUREMENT Work measurement: Determining how long it should take to do a job.Standard timeStopwatch time studyHistorical timesPredetermined dataWork sampling

STANDARD TIMEStandard time: The amount of time it should take a qualified worker to complete a specific task, working at a sustainable rate, using given methods, tools and equipment, raw materials, and workplace arrangement.

STOPWATCH TIME STUDYStopwatch time study: Development of a time standard based on observations of one worker taken over a number of cycles.The basic steps in a time study:Define the task to be studiedDetermine the number of cycles to observeTime the jobCompute the standard time

STANDARD ELEMENTAL TIMESStandard elemental times: Time standards derived from a firms historical data.Steps for standard elemental timesAnalyze the jobCheck file for historical timesModify file times if necessarySum elemental times to get normal time

PREDETERMINED TIME STANDARDSPredetermined time standards: Published data based on extensive research to determine standard elemental times.Advantages:Based on large number of workers under controlled conditionsAnalyst not requires to rate performanceNo disruption of the operationStandards can be established

WORK SAMPLINGWork sampling: technique for estimating the proportion of time that a worker or machine spends on various activities and idle time.Work sampling involves making brief observations of a worker or machine at random intervalsWork sampling does not require timing an activitycontinuous observation of an activity

COMPENSATIONTime-based systemCompensation based on time an employee has worked during a pay periodOutput-based (incentive) systemCompensation based on the amount of output an employee produces during a pay period

FORM OF INCENTIVE PLANAccurateEasy to applyConsistentEasy to understandFair

COMPENSATIONIndividual incentive plansGroup incentive plansKnowledge-based pay systemManagement compensation