Lesson 29

Work System Design

Therbligs

Dr. Inderdeep Singh

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

1
 Applications of Micro Motion Study
A As an aid in studying the activities of two or more
persons on a group work.

B As an aid in studying the relationship of the activities

of the operator and the machine.

C As an aid in obtaining motion time data for time

standards
D
Acts as a permanent record of the method and time of
activities of the operator and the machine
 Evolution of Therbligs
 The word therblig was the creation
of Frank Bunker Gilbreth and Lillian
Moller Gilbreth, American industrial
psychologists who invented the field
of time and motion study.
 It is a reversal of the name Gilbreth,
with 'th' transposed.

www.pocketbook.co.uk/blog/2017/06/13
 Therbligs: Introduction
 Therbligs are 18 kinds of
elemental motions used in the
study of motion economy in the
workplace.
 A workplace task is analyzed by
recording each of the therblig
units for a process, with the
results used for optimization of
manual labour by eliminating
unnecessary movements.
 Types of Therbligs

Effective Therbligs Whereas Ineffective

contribute much to Therbligs decreases
improvement in work the work efficiency by
efficiency by less time increasing the time
consumption. consumption.
Effective Therbligs
 1 Reach (RE) or Transport Empty (TE)
 Symbol-  Colour – Olive Green

Description-
 Motion of empty hand to or from object
 Time depends on distance moved
 Usually preceded by release and followed by Grasp

Example –
 Moving empty hand to grasp a screw on the table
 2 Move (M) or Transport Load (TL)
 Symbol-  Colour – Green

Description-
 Movement of loaded hand
 Time depends on distance, weight, and type of move
 Usually preceded by Grasp and followed by Release or position.

Example –
 Carrying a screw driver to the screw head.
 3 Grasp (G)
 Symbol-  Colour – Red
Description-
 Closing fingers around an object
 Begins as the fingers contact the object and ends when control
has been gained.
 Time depends on type of Grasp
 Usually preceded by Reach and followed by Move.

Example –
 Closing fingers around a screw lying on the table.
 4 Release Load (RL)
 Symbol-  Colour – Carmine Red

Description-
 Relinquishing control of object, typically the shortest of the
therbligs.

Example –
 Letting go of a component in a tray.
 5 Pre-Position (PP)
 Symbol-  Colour – Pale Blue

Description-
 Positioning object in predetermined location for later use
 Usually occurs in a conjunction with Move, as in orienting a
wrench for tightening a bolt.

Example –
 Placing a tapered shank drill in a hole in rack.
 6 Use (U)
 Symbol-  Colour – Purple

Description-
 Manipulating device or tool for intended use.
 Begins when hand starts to work with tool or device, and ends
when the hand finishes the application.

Example –
 Using a spray gun to spray an object.
 7 Assemble (A)
 Symbol-  Colour – Violet

Description-
 Bringing two mating parts together
 Usually preceded by position or Move and followed by Release.

Example –
 Fitting friction cap on the pen.
 8 Disassemble (DA)
 Symbol-  Colour – Light Violet

Description-
 Separating mating parts.
 Usually preceded by Grasp and followed by Move or Release.

Example –
 Removing the tool from tool post.
 9 Find (F)

 Symbol-  Colour – Grey

Ineffective Therbligs
 1 Search (Sh)
 Symbol-  Colour – Black

Description-
 Eyes or hands hunting for object
 Begins as the eyes move in to locate an object.

Example –
 Searching a 5mm drill from a box containing assorted drills.
 2 Select (St)
 Symbol-  Colour – Light Grey

Description-
 Choosing one item from several
 Usually preceded by Search.

Example –
 A 5mm drill is located in a box containing assorted drills.
 3 Position (P)
 Symbol-  Colour – Blue

Description-
 Turning or orienting object during work.
 Usually preceded by Move and followed by Release.

Example –
 Positioning screw driver to bring its tip into slot of screw head.
 4 Inspect (I)
 Symbol-  Colour – Burnt ochre

Description-
 Comparing object with standard, generally with sight, but could
also be with the other senses.

Example –
 Visually checking the presence of any scratch on coated surface.
 5 Plan (Pn)
 Symbol-  Colour – Brown

Description-
 Mental reaction
 Pausing to determine next action
 Usually detected as a hesitation preceding motion .

Example –
 In making an assembly, an operator decides which parts should
be assembled first.
 6 Unavoidable Delay (UD)
 Symbol-  Colour – Yellow

Description-
 Beyond the operator’s control due to the nature of the operation,
usually occurs when left hand is waiting while right hand
completes its work.

Example –
 Using right hand to feed rotating drill into workpiece while the
left hand waits .
 7 Avoidable Delay (AD)
 Symbol-  Colour – Lemon Yellow

Description-
 Operator solely responsible for the delay.

Example –
 An operator rotates the lathe chuck by hand before switching on
the spindle motor.
 8 Rest for over-coming fatigue (R)
 Symbol-  Colour – Orange

Description-
 Relaxation period.
 Appears periodically, not every cycle, depends on the physical
workload.

Example –
 An operator pauses during hand forging or hand filling
operation.
 9 Hold (H)
 Symbol-  Colour – Gold ochre

Description-
 One hand supports object while other does useful work.

Example –
 Holding bolt in one hand while assembling a washer onto it by
the other hand.
 Example
 Suppose a man goes into a bathroom and shave. We'll assume that his
face is all lathered and that he is ready to pick up his razor. He knows
where the razor is, but first he must locate it with his eye. That is
"search", the first Therblig. His eye finds it and comes to rest -- that's
"find", the second Therblig. Third comes "select", the process of
sliding the razor prior to the fourth Therblig, "grasp." Fifth is
"transport loaded," bringing the razor up to his face, and sixth is
"position," getting the razor set on his face. There are eleven other
Therbligs -- the last one is "think"!.
— Frank Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, Cheaper By the
Dozen
Source:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therblig