Key Points

• PMTS is a means of measuring time values associated with basic work actions.
• They do not account for outliers.
• They can allow you to better plan workflow for maximizing productivity.

If a portion of your workforce has tasks that involve repetitive motions to complete tasks, a predetermined motion time system is worth looking at to be sure the time spent on those tasks is being utilized at maximum efficiency in productivity.

What Is a Predetermined Motion Time System?

A predetermined motion time system can be defined as a work measurement system that assigns a time value to a work operation down to its basic human movements. All the individual repetitive movements involved in the work operation are accounted for and tables of data are utilized to assign a time value to each movement needed to complete the operation.

Why It Matters

Being able to quantify the repetitive portions of any process can readily show you where time is being wasted. Further, it allows you to drill down to make these motions robust, efficient, and productive. As such, you’ll want to conduct a PMTS study when you can.

3 Drawbacks of Predetermined Motion Time Systems

While there are benefits to predetermined motion time systems, their drawbacks should also be considered:

1. They Do Not Account for Unnatural Conditions

A PMTS cannot account for actions made under unnatural conditions. Some examples of this would be in a cramped space or when the body is in an unusual posture.

2. They Are Only Beneficial for Repetitive Motions

A predetermined motion time system is only functional for work tasks that have the same repetitive movements.

3. Predetermined Motion Time Systems Take a Lot of Resources to Develop

If you have specialized equipment or tasks that require a series of movements that fall outside of the predetermined motion time systems currently available, it would take a massive amount of data collection, research, and time to develop one suited to your unique processes.

Why Are Predetermined Motion Time Systems Important to Understand?

Predetermined motion time systems are worth understanding for the following reasons:

1. They Show How Work is Done

Predetermined motion time systems are useful for studying how work is accomplished, how the work can be improved, and how long work should take.

2. They Can Be Useful in Planning

Since the system can be utilized before work begins, the appropriate equipment, methods, and production schedules can be determined ahead of time, thereby minimizing waste.

3. A Predetermined Motion Time System Can Be Great In Training

A system can be utilized for training employees in movements that can be made to save time and that utilize proper ergonomics to prevent on-the-job injuries.

An Industry Example of a Predetermined Motion Time System

A new frozen pizza company wants to be able to advertise that all of their pizzas are hand-tossed before freezing. They have contracts with 500 stores that are going to carry the pizzas for the company’s initial launch.

The only thing they are unsure of is how many employees they will need as well as the lead time to make the pizzas to be ready for the launch. They decided to use studies done with predetermined motion time systems to determine how many pizzas an employee should be able to toss in an 8-hour shift.

Best Practices

Here are some practices to keep in mind when thinking about predetermined motion time systems:

It Pays Off with Little Investment

If the work required uses a set series of basic movements, utilizing an existing predetermined motion time system can reap great rewards for your labor model with very little financial resources needed.

Avoid the Stopwatch

The technique for accumulating PMTS data avoids inaccuracies that stem from the human element by not using a stopwatch to measure element time.

Have Trained Staff on Hand for the Study

By having well-trained staff that implement the study, you can help prevent on-the-job injury and fatigue.

Other Useful Tools and Concepts

Looking to supercharge your production? You’re in the right place to get the nitty gritty on new concepts for your business. Understanding how RQL factors into your production can mean the difference between maintaining customer confidence and taking a major hit.

Further, understanding how to monitor your process stability from an I-MR Chart can clue you into when things beyond your control occur. These charts are simple to construct and make use of continuous data to show a full picture.

Conclusion

If your business has a workforce that has set repetitive motions utilized to complete tasks, exploring a PMTS to improve output could be worth exploring.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Ground Picture/Shutterstock.com.