Volume 6, Issue 11, November – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-216

Using Work Factor Method with the MOST System

for Accurate Disassembly Time Evaluation
Jean Bosco SAMON
Laboratory of Mechanic, Material, and Photonic,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
National School of Agro-Industrial Sciences,
University of Ngaoundere

Abstract:- Rapid disassembly of components is required in motion study is a process efficiency technique, combining the
various contexts such as repair, remanufacturing, and Time Study work and the Motion Study work. There are many
recycling. Work Factor Method illustrates a good sequence types of MOST: Maxi, Basic, and Mini MOST.
of disassembly activities which is very heavy to implement.
That is why it is intended to interpret this sequence with Basic MOST: At the intermediate level, operations that
the MOST system. Therefore by applying a globally known are likely to be performed more than 150 but less than 1500
work evaluation system MOST (Maynard's Operation times per week should be analyzed with Basic MOST. An
Sequence Technique) in a Work Factor Disassembly operation in this category may range from a few seconds to 10
Sequence, we obtain a standard pattern of evaluating minutes in length (Operations longer than 10 minutes may be
Disassembly sequences time based on MOST principles. analyzed with Basic MOST, with 0.5-3 minutes being typical
The implementation of the Work factor Sequence with the cycle time for Basic MOST). The majority of operations in
MOST system gives more accurate disassembly time than most industries fall into this category. Basic MOST index
using the Work Factor Methodonly. The combination of ranges readily accommodate the cycle-to-cycle variations
these two techniques helps with time accuracy definition typical at this level. The method descriptions that result from
and therefore can increase product life-cycle quality. Basic MOST analyses are sufficiently detailed for use as
operator instructions[7].
Keywords:- MOST system, Work Factor Method Sequence,
Disassembly, Modelling. Work Factor method aims to obtain approximate
disassembly time for a product to be disassembled by using
I. INTRODUCTION the formula derived from the information on the Product's
connecting parts and working environment disassembling the
The needs for Disassembly include different stages such Product directly. This method was developed by [8]. Most
as maintenance, repairing, remanufacturing, recycling and products are composed of various components and different
disposal. In designing for Disassembly, improvements can be shapes and sizes by joint elements. Computing disassembly
achieved by considering future Disassembly of product time, the standard Time is calculated using the Work Factor
elements at the planning stage of new products [1] [2] [5]. method in the selected influence factor and disassembly work.
Several investigations have demonstrated through case studies
the cost-effectiveness and the environmental impact reduction Effective time is computed by using predetermined
from the application of Design for Disassembly in designing values of Time according to characteristics and conditions of
processes. Disassembly can be defined as the systematic each basic movement after analyzing the operation by humans
separation of a product into its components, sub-assemblies, as a basic movement. This operation time is divided into four
materials, and other groupings[3]. Fasteners are a type of (04) Factors as shown in the results section.
relationship that can significantly impact the Disassembly time
of a Product. That is due to introducing additional system This short presentation of the MOST technique and the
elements in nuts, bolts, rivets, and screws and the interaction Work Factor method should permit us to deduct the
of these fastening elements with Bolting. Based on those disassembly sequence operation time.
parameters, quantitative disassembly analysis is [[
summarized.Disassembly planning consists of finding an II. METHODOLOGY
optimal and feasible path for disassembly under given
constraints[6].Then comes this study which has as objective to A. Principles of MOST
propose a Standard, Adequate Disassembly Sequence Planning Accordingly, for effective and economical Disassembly,
for Industries with the Application of MOSTWork we must consider Disassembly when developing and
Measurement System. This study presents a way of Evaluating designing a product, even though the product designer
the Disassembly Sequence, which permits the technician to considers the Disassembly of the Product that he has
estimate the easinessof disassembled Productsusing the developed [9]. A Tool is necessary to judge how much the
Motion of Time and other Factors.[4]. MOST is disassembly process is easy objectively. In these studies, we
a predetermined motion time system used primarily in will apply the MOST system as a tool to get the best, shortest
industrial settings to set the standard Time in which a worker way for Disassembly using the Work Factor sequence. The
performs a task. A task is broken down into individual motion MOST worksheet represents the different Data card that
elements, and each is assigned a numerical time value in units provides the index value for each Sub-Activity and Sequence.
known as time measurement units, or TMUs [7].Time and

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Volume 6, Issue 11, November – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-216
In general, objects call to be moved in only two ways, either  Addition of all the parameter Index values of activity;
they are picked and moved freely through space, or they are  Convert the total of Index values into TMU;
moved while maintaining contact with another surface. For  Convert the TMU value in corresponding Time (Hours);
each type of Move, a different sequence of events occurs.  Convert the Time from an hour into Minutes.
Therefore, a separate MOST activity model applies. The use of
tools is analyzed through a separate activity sequence model. III. APPLICATIONOF MOST METHOD INTO
Consequently, only three basic MOST activity sequences are THE ABOVE DISASSEMBLY SEQUENCE BY
needed for describing manual Work: IMPLEMENTING WORK FACTOR SEQUENCE

 The General Move Sequence (for the movements of objects To facilitate the disassembly process in product
free1y through the air) designing by the use of Maynard’s Operation Sequence
 The controlled Move Sequence (for the movements of Technique to evaluate Disassembly time and make an
objects when it remains in contact with a surface or it is objective judge which disassembly process to choose based on
attached to another object during the movement) the level of ease, we came up with the following:
 The Tool Use Sequence (for the use of common hand tools)
A. Preparation Time
General Move Sequence: General Move is defined as moving The preparation time is acquired by Adding the Time
objects manually from one location to another freely through getting from the below influence factors.
the air. Four sub-activities make up the activity sequence by
considering the various ways in which a General Move can a) Identifying the joint elements
occur. The parameters are the series of letters representing Here the task consists of using our mental processes,
various activity elements. The parameters of the Basic MOST particularly those involving visual perception. We need to
General Move Sequence consist of 5 step pattern as below: determine the Tools we will need to accomplish the task by
ABG ABP A looking at the different joint elements and what type of Bond
holds them together hence determining the required tools to
Control Moves Sequence: Used when an object is moved disassemble them. Example It may be Screw and nut; we will
through a path that is somehow constrained. need to identify what type of wrench can be used to
disassemble that Screw or nut. The most appropriate parameter
The standard Sequence in Controlled Move: ABG MXI to determine this is the Think parameter in the tool Use
A Sequence of MOST. In this parameter, we can find indexing
on Inspection, which is the task for identifying joint elements.
The table below lists the parameters and possible action Inspection index values refer to the inspection number points
circumstances and the corresponding values of the index examined on the Product, such as the number and the size of
numbers. the nuts on the Product. Objects displacement is not
considered here.
Example: A worker takes two steps, grabs the waist-level feed
lever on the lathe, pulls up the lever approximately 15 cm to The Sequence Model is ABG - ABP - T - ABP – A
engage the feed. The processing time to turn the part is 25 sec.
Solution: 25 sec.s = 69.5 indices A3B0G1M1X70I0A0 where Where:
A3=walk 2 steps; B0=no body motion; G1=gain control of
lever; M1=pull the lever up 15 cm: X70=process time of; A: Action distance, the displacement made if necessary
I0=no alignment; A0=no motion. The sum of index values: 75. to identify the joint elements.
Normal time: 10*75=750 TMUs = 27 seconds. B: Body Motion, Bending, Seating, Arising if require for
the identification.
Tool use sequence:The Tool use sequence is composed of G: Gain Control, if the identification task can be
sub-activities for the General move sequence, along with completed without griping the object to turn or displace it.
specially designed parameters describing the actions P: Reposition the Object if it was held to identify the
performed with hand tools or, in some cases, the use of certain joint elements.
mental processes. We have five main activity phases: Get T: Think (Inspection), the special parameter in the
Object or Tool; Place object or Tool in working position; Use sequence Model, determines the Time required for
Tool; Put aside Tool; Return to the workplace. These are the identification.
particular parameters, which describe the tools use sequence
like – F: fasten, – L: loosen, etc. Those parameters and their indexes are depicted in
appendices 1 and 3.
Only one is used in a sequence: ABG ABP * ABP A
b) Searching and Identifier tools
B. The procedure of basic MOST method After identifying the tools required for Disassembly,
Here is the process of applying basic MOST methods: we need to search and identify our Tool Box or storehouse
tools. Generally, workers already know the size and shapes of
 Selection of Job and the Operator for study;
tools. This still falls under the same category as the above staff
 Record details of activity and conditions of Work; since it consists of observing and also displacing some objects.
 Observation of each parameter Phases;
 Parameter Indexing;

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Volume 6, Issue 11, November – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-216
On the observation side, we shall still use the Inspection The working Time or operation time depends on the
operator to evaluate the Time of this task. The Sequence condition of joint elements and the work environment. Its total
Model remains ABG - ABP - T - ABP - A Time can be calculated by adding the Time getting from the
A: Action distance, the displacement made if necessary to following Influence Factors:
identify the Tools.
B: Body Motion, Bending, Seating, Arising if require for a) Basic separation of joint Elements:
the identification of the tools. This process purely involves the Tool use Sequence
G: Gain Control, if the identification task can’t be of Maynard’s Technique where we are involved after some of
completed without griping objects to turn or displace them to the following Operations: Loosening. Cutting, etc.
see hidden tools.
P: Reposition the Object if it was held to identify the tools It is applied in the sequence model below: ABG - ABP
required. A: Action distance, the displacement made if necessary
T: Think (Inspection), the special parameter in the to separate the joint elements.
sequence Model, determines the Time required for B: Body Motion, Bending, Seating, Arising if required
identification. Its index value can be obtained from annex 3. for the separation of joint elements.
c) Griping Tools G: Gain Control to grasp the elements and make an easy
Getting the tools we need requires us to complete the separation.
following Sub-activities: Body Motions that are bending to P: Reposition the Object if it was held to separate the
take the tools if required and Griping the tools required. joint elements.
b) Time for aligning between Tool and Joint elements
To do that, we use the Sequence Model below: ABG The Time taken to complete this task can be evaluated by
the following sequence model: A B P
Where:
Where:
A: Action distance, the displacement made if necessary to
A: Action distance, the displacement made if necessary
get the Tools.
to align the Tool to the joints.
B: Body Motion, Bending, Seating, Arising if require to
B: Body Motion, Bending, Seating, Arising if required
get the tools.
to align the Tool and the joints.
G: Gain Control, The vital parameter to grasp the tools.
G: Gain Control; one will need to grasp the Joint Element
B. Movement Time for better Control.
Movement time is calculated by adding the Time getting P: Position, the most important parameter of this task,
from the following influence factors: since we need to position accurately with precision if
necessary, the Tool to the joints.
a) Movement between joint elements.
Movement between joint elements involves the c) Tool operation Area
different displacements made to access some part/side of a The tool operation area is the active operation in
product. We can use the sequence model below derived from disassembling a product. Because this is the area where we
the General Move Sequence: ABG disassemble the Product by some of the following disassembly
parameters:
Where:  Loosening bolts, nuts, and other elements.
 Cutting if required.
A: Action distance, the displacement made if necessary  Surface Treat
to go through the joints.
B: Body Motion, Bending, Seating, Arising if require. It is applied in the sequence model below: ABG - ABP -
G: Gain Control, not necessarily important here; hence it X - ABP - A
shall have an index value of 0.
A: Action distance, the displacement made if necessary
b) Redirecting towards the side of joint Elements to effectively complete our task.
This influencing factor involves the different displacements B: Body Motion, Bending, Seating, Arising if required
made to access some part/side of a product. This may involve: to complete our task effectively.
G: Gain Control to grasp the elements.
A: Action distance is our displacement around the P: Reposition the Object if it was held to complete the
Product. operation.
B: Our body Motions such as bending to have a better X: where X can be any of the special parameters
view. mentioned above needed to complete the task. Its index value
G: Griping the object to turn it or access a different part can be gotten from appendix 2.
or have a different view of the object
P: And placing it back if it was lifted. D. Post-Processing Time:
This is the Time taken to collect position the disassembled
We can use this sequencing model: ABG – P parts to the box or any other save location. In order words, it is
C. Working Time the Time taken to move the different parts to the proper

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ISSN No:-2456-216
location after separating the disassembled part. The Time is -Time for post-
also taken to move disassembled parts due to weight and size processing due to
or due to hazard. The Time required to complete this task can movement of
be evaluated by applying the General Move sequence of disassembled parts
MOST as shown below. (Tprdt)
-Time for post-
ABG - ABP - X - ABP – A processing due to
hazard (Tprd)
Where:
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆
A: Action distance, the displacement made to get or place ((𝟏) + (𝟐)
the parts. +(𝟑) + (𝟒)
= ∑ ∙ 𝟏𝟎
B: Body Motion, Bending, Seating, Arising made to +(𝟓) + (𝟔)
keep the part. [ +(𝟕) + (𝟖) + (𝟗))]
G: Gain Control, The important parameter to grasp the ∙ 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟑𝟔𝒔
part to displace it. Fig. 1. Derived MOST system from Work Factor Method
P: Positioning the part displaced at the desired location.
X: where X can be any of the special parameters due to IV. CONCLUSION AND PERSPECTIVES
hazard, weight, and size needed to complete the task.
The aim here was to implement the Work Factor
In sum, to calculate the total Disassembly time, we need disassembly sequence to the MOST system to derive the
to add up all the indexes gotten from the different Sequences standard operation time based on the appropriate disassembly
seen above, Multiple them by 10 and 0.036s, to get the Time sequence as Work Factor Method. The present Work is also
in Seconds, as shown in Fig. 1. regarding the method on disassembly time calculation, which
does not just consider the product Side, Shape, and Influence
Work Factor Sequence Derived MOST Equat factors but also the Body Motion of the Worker. When
Sequence ions calculating the disassembly Time, we just need to follow the
Prepa Time for ABG - ABP - T - (1) MOST Sequence given above; from there, the disassembly
ration identifying joint ABP - A time can be calculated, determining the best Disassembly
Time elements (Tpb) Sequence to implement on the designer’s Product.
(Tp) Time for searching ABG - ABP - T - (2)
and identifying ABP - A If we assume for example the case of recycling activities,
tools (Tps) practically, it is not easy to precisely estimate the Time taken
Time for gripping ABG (3) for Disassembly in the Recycling process because the
tools (Tpg) Product's condition would not be constant. It is anticipated that
Move Time for moving ABG (4) workers’ expertise, assignment of the workplace,
ment between joint characteristics of the Product, and hazards during operation
Time elements (Tmd) have a more significant influence on the Time and may
(Tm) change; hence, it may be necessary to make some adjustments
Time for ABG - P (5) on standard Time suitable for the feature of each category.
redirecting toward REFERENCES
the side of joint
elements (Td) [1.] Sassi, “Capital project planning for a circular economy”,
Opera Time for aligning ABP (6) 2008.
tion between Tool and [2.] Smith and al.,“Comparative life cycle assessment”, 2016.
Time/ joint Element [3.] Robert Bogue, “Design for Disassembly: a critical
Disas (Tdal) twenty-first-century discipline, Assembly Automation”,
sembl Time for basic ABG - ABP (7) 2007,Vol. 27.
y separation of joint [4.] Ali, Ammar, “PRODUCT DISASSEMBLABILITY
Time Element (Tdb) AND REMANUFACTURABILITY ASSESSMENT: A
(Td) Time for tool ABG - ABP - X - (8) QUANTITATIVE APPROACH” Theses and
operation area ABP - A Dissertations, Mechanical Engineering, 2017. 109.
(Tda) https://uknowledge.uky.edu/me_etds/109.
Time for the DigitalObjectIdentifer:
intensity of Work https://doi.org/10.13023/ETD.2017.502
(Tw) [5.] Gorgloewski, “Designing with reused building
Post- -Time for post- ABG - ABP - X - (9) components: Some challenges”, 2008.
proce processing due to ABP - A [6.] Smith and Hung, “A novel Selective Parallel
ssing weight and Disassembly Planning method for green Design”,2015.
Time size of the [7.] Kjell. B Zandin, “MOST WORK MEASUREMENT
(Tpr) disassembled parts SYSTEM”, Third Edition, 1980.
(Tprsw)

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ISSN No:-2456-216
[8.] Yi, HC., Park, YC., Lee, KS., “A study on the method of
disassembly time evaluation of a product using work
factor method”, International conference on systems,
man and cybernetics, 2003,vol 2, pp: 1753 – 1759.
[9.] Niebel and al.,“Niebel method Standards and work
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APPENDICES

APPENDIXI. GENERAL MOVE SEQUENCE DATA CARD [7]

General Move Activity Sequence Model = ABG - ABP - A

Inde A=Action B= Body Motion G = Grasp P = Placement
x Distance

0 < 2 IN HOLD
< 5 CM TOSS
1 WITHIN LIGHT OBJECTS LAY ASIDE
REACH LIGHT OBJECTS SIMO LOOSE FIT
3 1-2 BEND AND ARISE NON-SIMO ADJUSTMENT
STEPS 50% OCC HEAVY OR BULKY LIGHT PRESSURE
BLIND AND DOUBLE
OBSTRUCTED
DISENGAGE
INTERLOCKED
COLLECT
6 3-4 BEND AND ARISE CARE OR
STEPS PRECISION
HEAVY PRESSURE
BLIND OR
OBSTRUCTED
INTERMEDIATE
MOVES
10 5-7 SIT OR
STEPS STAND
16 8-10 THROUGH DOOR
STEPS CLIMB ON OR OFF

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