Question

Book: Operations and Supply Chain Management Jacobs & Chase 14e

11. Why are work measurement and time standards important for a firm? Are there any negatives to the implementation of these standards? Are there ways to achieve the same objectives without setting firm standards?

Answer 1

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Why are work measurement and time standards important for a firm? Are there any negatives to the implementation of these standards? Are there ways to achieve the same objectives without setting firm standards?

Work measurement is process through which a standard time, to carry out a work at desired performance levels, is set. Work measurement is used to eliminate non-standard and redundant work from the job.

Work measurement and setting up of a standard time is done for the following purposes:

• To eliminate redundant and non-performing activities
• To set up a standard time and use it to measure performance
• To increase performance levels
• To set targets and objectives

There has been much criticism related with work measurement and standards. Unions and workers’ rights groups have often criticized management of setting the work standards too high. Criticism is also related to increased targets for workers who find better ways to do their job and achieve those targets.

Work measurement and setting of standards is done to achieve certain objectives. These objectives include eliminating redundant time, eliminating non-performing activities, setting standards to measure performance, and setting targets and objectives.

Although a few of the objectives can have alternatives, but in order to meet certain objectives, it is necessary to have work measurement and setting of standards. Eliminating the use of set standards removes unfair targets set by the organization. It also increases the creativity of the employees.

For example, the objective of eliminating redundant and non-performing activities can be achieved by taking the feedback of the end customers. Thus, individuals will not work according to the standards set, but will work keeping in mind the feedback from the customers, and thereby, eliminating redundant and non-performing activities.

The level of performance can also be increased by increasing the rewards of achieving good quality. A positive feedback from end customers can be considered as feedback for good quality.

However, in some organizations where feedback from the end customers is not available, setting of standards for work measurement becomes imperative. Various manufacturing units are some of the examples where setting of standards is necessary for work measurement.

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