MAPUA UNIVERSITY

School of Industrial Engineering-Engineering Management

Rating

Activity 4

INSERTING MAILER IN AN ENVELOPE

Making the Time Study
(Elemental Analysis and Determining Number of Cycles)

Name:

Subject and Section: Signature:

Professor:

Date Performed: Date Submitted:

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 Activity 4
MAKING THE TIME STUDY: INSERTING MAILER IN AN ENVELOPE
(Elemental Analysis and Determining Number of Cycles)

ACTIVITY OBJECTIVES:

1. To understand the process of dividing the job being studied into elements.
2. To develop skills in recording the observed time using snap-back method.
3. To apply the knowledge of determining the required number of cycles.

THEORY AND ANALYSIS:

Elemental Analysis

Elements are components of a task that are logical divisions and have identifiable starting and
ending points. Elements can be of fairly short or relatively long duration. With a traditional
stopwatch, it is virtually impossible to directly time an element of less than .03 of a minute
duration. It is difficult to directly time elements shorter than this division. Thus, 0.03 of a minute
is the approximately physical limit on noting the starting and stopping point of an element and
recording the required reading.

Pointers in dividing task into elements:

 The elements should be as short in duration as can be accurately timed

 Divide the operation into groups of measurable motion known as “elements”.

 To divide the operation, watch the operator for several cycles.

 Every element must have an easily identifiable starting and stopping point.

 There can be no discontinuities between elements. The ending point of one element must be
the starting point of the next element. The instant one element ends and the next begins is
known as the breakpoint.

 Elements should be broken down into divisions that are convenient to time but not too small
that accuracy is sacrificed. When stopwatches are used, the smallest practical unit is about
0.04 minute or 3 seconds.
 Separate constant elements from variable elements

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Cycles in study
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 zs 
A more accurate number of cycles can be established using the following formula: n =  
 ax 
where n is the number of cycles or observations to be made, z is the significant value of the
confidence level from the z-table, s for the data standard deviation, a for the mean error, and x
for the sample average or mean.

Desired confidence Z
percent value
90 1.65
95 1.96
95.5 2.0
98 2.33
99 2.58

MATERIALS:

1. 30 pieces of mailers (used bond paper/yellow paper)

2. 10 pieces of letter envelope
3. Stopwatch / Timing device

PROCEDURES:

1. Each group shall perform the activity.

The job begins when the student reaches for the first mailer with the right hand and place
it in the left hand. Then, he will get the second mailer and place it on top of the first
mailer. Then, he will reach for the last mailer and place it on top of the second mailer.
After all the pages were taken, both hands will tap the stack three times against the table.
The mailers shall be folded from the top to the one-third mark by the left hand and be
pleated with the right hand. From the bottom, shall be folded to the one-third mark and
be pleated with the left hand. The right hand shall then get the envelope and the left hand
puts the mailers inside. Both hands will seal the envelope. The sealed envelope shall be
placed on the stack at the right of the work area.

Prior to performance of said activity, each group shall arrange all the materials in their
specified work area.

2. Based on the above activity, determine the work elements and write them in Form 1.1
3. By using Form 1.2, record the time per element of the 10 observations.
4. Determine the average observed/selected time per element.
5. Compute for the required number of cycles per element at 98% confidence level and +/-
5% maximum error.

DATA PRESENTATION (Refer to Data Sheet Form)

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ANALYSIS:

1. What problem(s) arise(s) in breaking the operation into elements?

2. What difficulties were encountered in reading and recording time values per element?
3. Are ten (10) observations sufficient for the activity performed? If no, why?

CONCLUSIONS:

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MAPUA UNIVERSITY MAKING THE TIME STUDY
School of Industrial Engineering (2Elemental Analysis)

Job/Operation: Inserting Mailer in an Envelope

Name of Operator: _______________________________ Form 1.1

DATA PRESENTATION:

Sketch of the Workplace

Description
Element Number
(Starting And Ending Points)
Starts :
Ends :
Starts :
Ends :
Starts :
Ends :
Starts :
Ends :
Starts :
Ends :
Starts :
Ends :
Starts :
Ends :
Starts :
Ends :
Starts :
Ends :
Starts :
Ends :
Starts :
Ends :
Starts :
Ends :

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MAPUA UNIVERSITY MAKING THE TIME STUDY
School of Industrial Engineering (Determining the Observed Time)

Job/Operation: Inserting Mailer in an Envelope Time Study Sheet

Name of Operator: _______________________________ Form 1.2

Element Selected Required

Description 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
No. Time No. of Cycles

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DATA SHEET (SAMPLE COMPUTATION)