1.

1 TIME STUDY PROCEDURE

The outline procedure adopted for any work measurement exercise with the first three
stages. Select, Record and Examine, being common to any work measurement technique. The
reasons for selecting a particular operation would be to achieve any one or more of the uses
previously identified, but unless the study is carried out as part of a method study, the work
selected should use a suitable method and be carried out in a planned environment. This
aspect is looked into at the record and examine stages, and method improvement may be
carried out, perhaps through method study, before proceeding.
Once the operation to be studied is selected the best work measurement technique can
be decided upon. For existing repetitive or cyclic operations time study is clearly an
appropriate method. During the record stage the analyst should study the operation without
timing, watching a few cycles until he or she understands it thoroughly and obtaining
explanations from the supervisor or workmen as necessary.
The operation should then be broken down into elements to facilitate subsequent
synthesis. For example, a tower crane can be used for lifting, slewing and moving times at
different height would be valuable in assembling activity times for, say, placing concrete in a
high-rise building. In this way direct observation can, in principle, be avoided when the data
bank has developed to include most construction tasks and elements. The number of elements
will, however, depend on the objective but should be carefully selected so that the break
points that separate two elements are clearly identifiable during field observation.
Once these stages have been done, time study involves three broad stages:

Planning for field data collection

On-site data collection

Data analysis and compilation

1.1.1 Planning For Field Data Collection

This stage involves decisions on the time study method, equipment to be used and
preparation of data collection forms. The timing method will be either fly-back or cumulative
depending on the operation to be measured. The former may be suitable to measure one
operative but when there are more than one with work elements starting and finishing at
different times, cumulative timing will be the only alternative. The equipment to be used
mainly consists of a suitable stop-watch considering the timing method, convenience and the
facilities available as previously described, a study board, and pencils, supplemented by hand
calculator, tape measure, micrometer and so on, depending upon the type of work.
Preplanned time study observation forms can be of any form, again depending on the
type of work to be observed, but the conventional format is suitable for most construction
operations. Operations of a purely cyclical nature can be more efficiently recorded using
break points rather than elements

1.1.2 On-Site Data Collection

In order to take good time studies, the observer must not only concentrate on clear and
accurate timing and recording operations but must also maintain a friendly relationship with
the operatives being studied. Before the study begins, it is therefore necessary to approach the
workers to be observed and their foreman and explain the purpose of the exercise, with
discussions where necessary with the parties and the operatives to understand any difficulties
or features of the job. In most cases workers are likely to cooperate, particularly if the final
result is to be increased earnings or less fatiguing work. When time study in new to the
workforce it is a good policy to discuss it with the union representatives on-site and to answer
all questions quite frankly. On no account should the observer resort to secret timing because
it invariably leads to labour unrest.
When these problems are sorted out, on-site observation can commence but before
starting timing it is essential to gather as much detail about the work as possible. This
information will include the layout of the workplace, a cross-section of the work, weather and
site-conditions, date, time, identification of workers under study, and notes about site access,
proximity of materials supplies, tools and equipment used and so forth. These can be
recorded in a study top sheet as shown in Figure 5 and can be used irrespective of the work
measurement technique.
Once all of these details are complete, actual timing can commence with the observer
positioned at a suitable place so that everything that is taking place can be seen throughout
the study period. The actual observed time for each element should then be recorded with the
stop-watch and the observer must additionally make a judgement on the effective rate of
working of the subject under observation, for the reasons described previously.

Figure 1: Time study top sheet showing outlines and results.

Figure 2: Time study observations sheet.

Figure 4 shows recording of these times (using a continuous decimal stop-watch) and
rate for two cycles of a concreting operation. The elemental times will vary depending on the
circumstances, between, say, 0.5 and 5 minutes and it is a good principle to take a reading at
every 2-3 minutes for longer cycle elements such as floating of a floor surface, which can last
for perhaps half an hour with no significant breaks in the workers rhythm. This will also help
to record any rate changes in between (see Figure 6). Accurate timing of repetitive cycle
elements can be obtained by clear identification of break points, perhaps with the assistance
of sharp movements or noise, for example, the noise of a skip striking the ground, or pulling
the mixer lever.

Whenever an ineffective time is encountered during observation, it must be properly

timed and recorded, with a clear description and including IT (ineffective time) in the rating
column. These ineffective time s may include rest or relaxation, wasting time for unnecessary
refinement, correcting mistakes, carrying out unrelated work or idle or waiting time caused
by interference such as waiting for materials, fellow workers, plant breakdowns and so on,
and must be ringed so that they can be taken out of subsequent calculation (see Figure 6).
Before finishing on-site observations the total work content completed during the
study period should be recorded. For example, in a concreting operation this may be the total
number of skips handled, the total volume of concrete poured and the total area covered. In
bricklaying operation it may be the total area covered or the number of bricks laid. With this,
on-site observation is over; the actual calculation of basic times and standard times is usually
carried out in the office.
Indeed, complete generalization of construction operations is often difficult. For
example, the time for placing concrete by a crane will vary with several factors such as the
size and the type of skip, the size of the opening in the shuttering, the quantity of concrete
poured and so forth. The effect of these variables can be readily incorporated by plotting the
basic times obtained against changes in a variable or combination of variables.

1.1.3 Establishment of Basic Time and Standard Time

The elemental times can now be worked out using clock time readings at the break
points and are then enterer under observed tine (OT) and subsequently converted to basic
times.
Work elements recorded on the time study form in addition to those identified before
the study, such as fetching various tools, preparing formwork and so on, are important nut
limited value in that form and should be grouped together to be of practical use considering
the fact that they bear a direct relationship to some physical aspect of the job done. For
example, the time spent on positioning various tools, positioning scaffold boards, cleaning
out the slab before concreting and so on can all be regrouped under fetch tools and prepare.
These basic times are now transferred to the abstract sheet shown in Figure 7, which
contains subsequent records of elements for 15 cycles. The calculations are self-explanatory

and the last column provides an average basic time for each element to be used for
subsequent synthesis. The elements and the total basic times are then transferred to a
summary sheet and relaxation and contingency allowances are added as described previously
(Figure 8).

Figure 3: Time study abstract sheet.

The basic for calculating relaxation allowances is the systematic analysis of those
factors involved in an element that would necessitate compensating relaxation if the operative
were to maintain a consistent rate of working over a long period. The resultant times are the
standard times for different elements of the job and are then related to the job quantities to
give unit standard times. These can be used for any of the applications described previously
or to develop time standards for other operations using other work measurement techniques.
It should be note that the example demonstrated in Figure 5-8 is meant to illustrate the time
study procedure but in a complete study there may be other elements such as clean out
workplace, wash and clean tools and so forth that must be incorporated since they are part
of operation.

1.2 Limitations of Time Studies and Trends

Despite the importance of work measurement data obtained from stop-watch studies
there are several inherent constraints that prevent it being regularly applied in construction
operations. The notable ones are:

Reliable data can only be collected from experienced work study practitioners
who are very scare in the construction industry.

The number of workers studied by one observer is limited (maximum of about

five by an experienced work practitioner), which requires employment of
several observers, making manual study prohibitively expensive.

When activity break points are not clearly identifiable, there can be differences
of opinion as to when one phase is completed and another started. Such errors
can be significant, particularly if several observers are involved and data sre
compared and combined.

The information obtained by time studies is limited to the times recorded and
facts that can be interpreted from the observers notes, which may not cover
sufficient details such as interdependencies among components, exact reasons
for taking longer or shorter elemental times. These will increase the variablility
and reduce accuracy.

The data cannot be assembled quickly, especially in civil engineering, where the
variables on-site complicate the interpretation of information as the relaxation
and contingency allowances needed often considerably exceed the required
basic time.

Figure 4:Time study summary sheet.

1.3 Procedures for conducting stop watch time study

Generally, the following procedure is followed in conducting stop watch time study:
1. Selection of task to be timed:
Select the task or job that needs to be timed for study purpose. There are various
priorities on the basis of which task or job to be studied is selected or repetitive jobs,
jobs with longer cycle time, to check correctness of existing time, comparison of two
methods etc.
2. Standardize the Method of Working:
To achieve performance standard accuracy it is necessary to record the correct method
of working.
3. Select the operator/worker for study:
Select the consistent worker whose performance should be average or close to average
so that observed times are close to normal times.
4. Record the details:
The following information is recorded on observation sheet: Name of labour, task/job
performed, department, section of work activity, general information about activity
performed etc.
5. Break the task into element:
Each operation is divided into a number of elements. This is done for easy
observation and accurate measurement.
6. Determine number of cycles to be measured:
It is important to determine and measure the number of cycles that needs to be
observed to arrive at accurate average time.

7. Measure the time of each element using stop watch:

The time taken for each element is measured using a stop watch. There are two
methods of measuring. viz., Fly back method and Cumulative method. The time
measured from the stop watch is known as observed time.
8. Determine standard rating:
Rating is the measure of efficiency of a worker. The operators rating is found out by
comparing his speed of work with standard performance. The rating of an operator is
decided by the work study man in consultation with the supervisor. Various rating
methods used are speed rating, synthetic rating and objective rating.
9. Calculate the Normal time/ Basic time:
The observed time cannot be the actual time required to perform the work for a
worker. Therefore, Normal time needs to be calculated. Normal time is the time that a
worker takes when working at normal pace. It is calculated as below:
Normal Time =

Observed time x

Observed rating
Standard rating

10. Determine the allowance:

A worker cannot work all the day continuously. He will require time for rest going for
toilet, drinking water etc. Unavoidable delays may occur because of tool breakage etc.
So some extra time is added to the normal time. The extra time is known as
allowance. It is generally allotted as per the company policy.
11. Determine the standard time:
The standard time is the sum of Normal time and allowances. Thus it is calculated as
below:
Standard Time = Normal Time + Relaxation allowances + Contingency allowance

1.4 Importance and Uses of Stop Watch Time Study:

Generally this technique is used to determine the time required by a qualified and well
trained person working at a normal pace to do a specified task. The result of time study is the
time that a person suited to the job and fully trained in the specific method. The job needs to
be performed if he or she works at a normal or standard tempo. This time is called the
standard time for operation. This means the principle objectives of stop watch time study are
to increase productivity and product reliability and lower unit cost, thus allowing more
quality goods or services to be produced for more people. The importance and uses of stop
watch time study can be stated as under:
i.
ii.
iii.

Determining schedules and planning work

Determining standard costs and as an aid in preparing budgets
Estimating the costs of a product before manufacturing it. Such information is of

iv.

value in preparing bids and determining selling price.

Determining machine effectiveness, the number of machines which one person
can operate, and as an aid in balancing assembly lines and work done on a

v.
vi.

conveyor.
Determining time standards to be used as a basis for labour cost control.
Helps to know the Labour productivity, Labour efficiency, Labour Performance

vii.

and overall time required to perform the task.

Helps to improve the process of operation.

1.5 Equipments used to measure time using Stop watch

Following equipment are used to measure time using Stop watch time study method:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Digital or electronics stop watch

Electronic data collector and computer
Observation board
Observation sheet
Stationary Pen, Pencil, Eraser, Calculator.