Definition

Noun: A systematic analysis of a specific work task or job process, conducted to determine the most efficient method of performing it, with a primary focus on the time required and the effort expended. The goal is to establish a standard time for a qualified worker to complete the task at a defined pace.

Usage

The term "time study" is used in industrial engineering, operations management, and business process improvement. It refers to the formal technique of observing, recording, and analyzing work cycles to eliminate unnecessary movements and set performance standards.

Examples

• The industrial engineer conducted a time study on the assembly line to identify bottlenecks.
• Before setting production quotas, management authorized a detailed time study of the packaging process.
• The results of the time study were used to redesign the workstation for better ergonomics and speed.

Advanced Usage

• "To perform/conduct/carry out a time study": This is the standard collocation for initiating this type of analysis.
  • The consultant was hired to perform a time study on the administrative workflow.
• The concept is often associated with scientific management and the work of Frederick Winslow Taylor.

Variants and Related Words

• Time and motion study (or motion and time study): A closely related, often synonymous term that explicitly includes the analysis of body movements ("motion") alongside time measurement.
• Work measurement: A broader category of techniques, which includes time study, for establishing the time required for a task.
• Standard time: The output or result of a time study; the expected time to complete a task.

Synonyms

• Work measurement study
• Efficiency analysis
• Process timing analysis

Related Phrases

• Time study observation: The act of watching and recording task performance during the study.
• Time study analyst: The person who conducts the study.

Noun

1. an analysis of a specific job in an effort to find the most efficient method in terms of time and effort