This article was downloaded by: [University Of Maryland]

On: 07 November 2014, At: 14:25

Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number:
1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street,
London W1T 3JH, UK

International Journal of
Production Research
Publication details, including instructions for
authors and subscription information:
http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tprs20

A study on setting
standard time using work
achievement quotient
Shun'Ichi Nakayama , Ken'Ichiro Nakayama &
Hiroshi Nakayama
Published online: 14 Nov 2010.

To cite this article: Shun'Ichi Nakayama , Ken'Ichiro Nakayama & Hiroshi

Nakayama (2002) A study on setting standard time using work achievement
quotient, International Journal of Production Research, 40:15, 3945-3953, DOI:
10.1080/00207540210159581
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207540210159581

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE

Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all
the information (the Content) contained in the publications on our
platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors
make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy,
completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions
and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of
the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis.
The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be
independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and
Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings,
demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever
or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in
relation to or arising out of the use of the Content.
This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study
purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution,

Downloaded by [University Of Maryland] at 14:25 07 November 2014

reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any

form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access
and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-andconditions

int. j. prod. res., 2002, vol. 40, no. 15, 39453953

A study on setting standard time using work achievement quotient

Downloaded by [University Of Maryland] at 14:25 07 November 2014

SHUNICHI NAKAYAMA y, KENICHIRO NAKAYAMA z and

HIROSHI NAKAYAMA}
A method is proposed for setting standard time using a work achievement quotient approach. As an example, the vehicle safety inspection service for fork-lift
trucks is considered. Conventionally, standard time has been set using a
Predetermined Time System (PTS) method such as the Work Factor (WF) and
Method-Time Measurement (MTM) methods or using a stopwatch method. The
PTS method sometimes may be inappropriate because the analysis is too much
trouble when the method is used for a work of a small manufacturing volume or
of a long cycle time. Although simpler WF methods like the Ready Work Factor
(RWF) method, etc., have been developed, users of these methods are expected to
be trained and have completed hands-on analytical practice through a formal
training course and to acquire the necessary skills in order to obtain accurate
time measurements. When the stopwatch method is used to conduct the rating,
subjective impressions can inuence the results. To obtain accurate time measurements, a thorough training using lms, etc., is necessary. In contrast, the method
for setting standard time using the work achievement quotient approach can
grasp individual variation of workers in time sequence and evaluate it dynamically. Thus, calculation is possible using a small statistical sample.

1.

Introduction
This paper proposes a method for setting a standard time using a work achievement quotient approach. As an example, the vehicle safety inspection service for
fork-lift trucks is considered. Conventionally, standard time has been set using a
Predetermined Time System (PTS) method such as the Work Factor (WF) method
(Quick et al. 1945) and the Method-Time Measurement (MTM) method (Maynard
et al. 1948), or by using a stopwatch method. The PTS method sometimes may be
inappropriate because the analysis takes too much time when it is used for a small
manufacturing volume or a long cycle time. Although simpler WF methods like the
Ready Work Factor (RWF) method, etc., have been developed, users of these methods are expected to be trained and have completed hands-on analytical practise by
receiving a formal training course and to acquire the necessary skills in order to
obtain accurate time measurements (Maynard 1963, Ikenaga 1977). When the stopwatch method is used to conduct the rating, subjective impressions can inuence the
results. To obtain accurate time measurements, a thorough training method using
Revision received May 2002.
{ Meijo University, Department of Transportation Engineering, 1-501, Shiogamaguchi
Tenpaku-ku Nagoya, Japan.
{ Sapporo University, Department of Business Administration, 3-7-3-1, Nishioka,
Toyohira-ku, Sapporo, Japan.
} Nagoya University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Furo-cho Chikusa-ku,
Nagoya, Japan.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail: snakaya@meijo-u.ac.jp
International Journal of Production Research ISSN 00207543 print/ISSN 1366588X online # 2002 Taylor & Francis Ltd
http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
DOI: 10.1080/00207540210159581

3946

S. Nakayama et al.

lms, etc., is necessary. In contrast, the method for setting standard time using the
work achievement quotient approach (Nakayama and Sakai 1979a, 1979b, 1985,
Nakayama 1992, 1995, 2000, 2001) can obtain individual variations for workers in
a time sequence and evaluate it dynamically. Thus, calculation is possible using a
small statistical sample. In addition, work improvement is also possible.
The tendency equation and work achievement quotient are given here. The
tendency equation for the relation of Y to X is:
0

Downloaded by [University Of Maryland] at 14:25 07 November 2014

b
b
Y aX * 1 X :

Equation (1) has two terms: the rst gives the centre line of the tendency line, the
second the variation of the tendency. Each important index of equation (1) is determined and from the results the work performance under consideration is evaluated.
The aim of the tendency equation is to analyse the data as an area bounded by an
upper limit line and a lower limit line. The rst term of equation (1) shows the
average of the data (tendency line); the second term evaluates the rate of the accomplishment of the work, which can also be estimated from the coe cient of variation.
Here, the vehicle safety inspection service for fork-lift trucks is considered. Their
analytical results were su ciently satisfactory.
2.

Methods
The method for evaluating the performance relatively and dynamically using a
tendency equation is explained. A tendency equation is given by:
0

where
X; Y
a
b
0
b
*
1

b
b
Y aX * 1 X ;

are variables,
is a coe cient,
is the index number of tendency,
is the index number of tendency variation,
means multiply or divide,
is the initial variation.

Equation (2) is a tendency equation for the relation of Y to X. It consists of two

terms: the rst gives the tendency line (used in forecasting), the second the variation
of the tendency (for estimating work performance). In a tendency equation, the
upper limit line is obtained by multiplying the rst term by the second, and the
lower limit line by dividing the rst term by the second.
The aim of the tendency equation is to analyse the data as an area bounded by an
upper limit line and lower limit line. The rst term of equation (2) shows the average
of the data (tendency line); the second is used to evaluate the rate of accomplishment
of the work, which can also be estimated from the coe cient of variation.
In the analysis, performance data obtained for repeating the same task several
times are plotted logarithmically in a time sequence and their regression line is
drawn, the direction of advance of the data being considered. A line passing through
two points on the upper limit of the data (the upper limit line) and another through
two points on the lower limit (the lower limit line) are determined to minimize the
angle a between the tendency line and the regression line (gure 2).
The upper limit line is given by
3
log Y log au bu log X ;

Setting standard time using work achievement quotient

3947

the lower limit line by:

log Y log al bl log X:

These equations are therefore used to calculate au , bu , al and bl . The coe cient a and
initial variation 1 are then determined from au and al :
0

a al au =al

1=2

and

au =al 1=2 1 :

Next, b and b are calculated respectively from the following equations:

0
b bu bl =2 and b bu bl =2:

5
6

Downloaded by [University Of Maryland] at 14:25 07 November 2014

Thus, all parameters for the tendency equation are determined:

1=2
Q 1 1 1= ;

where the rate of accomplishment of the work

accomplished task can be evaluated
0
using the ratio of variation of data ( 1 X b ) obtained from the tendency equation
in equation (7) (Nakayama and Sakai 1985). This rate, Q, (0 < Q < 1), will be called
the work achievement quotient.
This method is better than the usual analytical ways using the mean and standard
deviation because the performance is evaluated relatively in the interval [0 1] and
the computation is easy. It is therefore useful for problems where more than three
things have to be compared and the best determined, e.g. workers and machines
making the same thing.
3.

Content of work
The vehicle safety inspection service for fork-lift trucks comprises the processes
of reception, changing the oil, washing, engine, wheels and their attaching means,
cargo, option and completed car checking. Among these, three processesthe
engine, wheels and their attaching means and the cargoare line works.
An arrangement chart for the checking maintenance is shown in gure 1. The cargo
process in the line is taken out. This process work is sorted into 14 element works. A
workers evaluation in each element work is performed and a standard time is set.
In a measurement of work time, a video tape recording (VTR) photographing is
performed to remove a measurement error. Thereafter, an analysis is performed by
reproducing the videotape and the work time is determined. The work was measured
repeatedly by 15 times.
3.1. Element works in the cargo process
The 14-element works in the cargo process are as follows.
. 1st element work: fork is lifted, safety bars are prepared and wheel stoppers are
removed.
. 2nd element work: brake liquid is supplied and the torque wrench is gripped.
. 3rd element work: nut is screwed and a hand contacts a di erential oil supply
device.
. 4th element work: supply di erential gear oil, hold a grease feeding apparatus.
. 5th element work: feed each part of the gear with grease.
. 6th element work: feed the mast rail with grease, return the grease-feeding
apparatus to the former position.
. 7th element work: start the engine, restore the safety bar and lower the fork,
hold a box-end combination wrench.

Downloaded by [University Of Maryland] at 14:25 07 November 2014

3948

S. Nakayama et al.

Figure 1. Arrangement chart for checking the maintenance of fork-lift trucks.

. 8th element work: tighten the backrest bolt, switch-hook bolt and lift-head
bolt, put the box-end combination wrench back.
. 9th element work: check and adjust the spreading condition of each chain of
the fork, hold a brush in a grease container.
. 10th element work: feed the fork rail with grease, return the brush into the
grease container.
. 11th element work: feed the brake, clutch ring and handle knob with lubricant.
. 12th element work: feed each chain of the fork with lubricant, return the
lubricant container to the former position.
. 13th element work: x the brake master.
. 14th element work: line o .
3.2. Calculation example
To demonstrate the method of analysis described, the work performance of a
worker in the 1st element work in the cargo process is considered (gure 1). A worker
evaluation in the 1st element work is performed and a standard time is set. A worker is
20 years old with 1 year of experience in the vehicle safety inspection service for fork-lift
trucks. For measurement, a VTR was used. The results are shown in gure 2.
The measured times taken by the worker for this task are plotted logarithmically
in a time sequence. Their regression line is then drawn, the direction of advance of
the data being considered. The upper limit line passing through two points on the
upper limit and the lower limit line through two points on the lower limit are
determined (gure 2). Then au , al , bu and bl are calculated from equations (3) and (4):
au 58:6653;

al 41:0965;

bu 0:0603;

bl 0:1601;

Downloaded by [University Of Maryland] at 14:25 07 November 2014

Setting standard time using work achievement quotient

3949

Figure 2. Tendency chart of the rst element work in the cargo process.

where the coe cient a and the initial variation 1 are calculated from au and al using
equation (5):
a 49:1021
and
1 1:1948:
0

Similarly, b and b are calculated from equation (6):

b 0:1102

and

0
b 0:0499:

Therefore, all the parameters for the tendency equation have been determined,
giving:

8
Y 49:1021X 0:1102 * 1:1948X 0:0499;

1=2
when X 1, 1 1:1948 and Q1 1 1 1=1:1948 0:5962; when X 15,
0:0499
1:3677 and Q15 0:4815.
15 1:1948 15
The di erence between the initial ratio of variation 1 and the terminal ratio of
variation 15 is given by:
j1 15 j 0:1729:

The work achievement quotient Q for his rst element work measurement was
0.5962 (59.62%) and for the 15th 0.4815 (48.15%). (The nearer the work achievement quotient is to 1, the more competent is the worker in terms of skill.) The
variation di erence j1 15 j 0:1729 was considered as standard. The 1st element
work in the cargo process is actually applied to a tendency equation, and shown in
gure 2 (others are omitted).
The tendency equation is produced from the work time of each element work
measured in 15 times, and a work achievement quotient Q and a variation di erence
were found. And, standard values of the work achievement quotient Q and the
variation di erence are set.

S. Nakayama et al.

3950

In respective processes, the evaluation of worker is carried out, and based on the
results, the standard values for this line are set up as follows.
Work achievement quotient: 45%.

Downloaded by [University Of Maryland] at 14:25 07 November 2014

Variation di erence: 0.2.

To nd the standard time, the standard values for both the work achievement
quotient and the variation di erence need to be satised concurrently.
The above-mentioned standard values are empirical values obtained through an
analysis of a number of actual works (Nakayama and Sakai 1979, 1983).
Here, the workers evaluation in each element work is shown in table 1. (Those
not satisfying the standard values are shaded.)
As a result of the evaluation with regard the element work which satises both of
these standard values concurrently, a tendency line becomes approximately parallel
to an axis of abscissas in the case where the data are plotted on a logarithmic axis.
When drawing a learning curve with the same data, the curve becomes a straight line
on the logarithmic table and is approximately in parallel with the horizontal axis.
When expressed with the level of the learning, it > 95%. Therefore, when both of the
standard values are satised concurrently, it means that the status of learning is fully
satisfactory (Nakayama and Sakai 1979a, 1979b, 1983). Therefore, the standard time
is set from the work time under this state.
The standard time is a time at a middle point of measurement number section
(X 1 15) on a centre line in a tendency diagram of the tendency equation under a
state satisfying the standard value. In taking the 1st element work as an example, a
time value in a middle point of a line segment AB on the centre line in gure 2
(tendency diagram) is the standard time.
The centre line is a 1st term of the tendency equation of the 1st element work in
table 1:
0:1102
Y 49:1021X

Estimated values
in X 1

Element
works
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

Tendency equation
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y

49:1021X 0:1102 * 1:1948X 0:0499

151:6701X 0:0451 * 1:2644X 0:1149
75:9976X 0:4363 * 1:4171X 0:1140
164:3804X 0:3197 * 1:4360X 0:0369
13:6568X 0:4035 * 2:0102X 0:1543
20:5826X 0:2745 * 1:2924X 0:0304
22:1615X 0:0148 * 1:9266X 0:1769
123:5236X 0:1417 * 1:2696X 0:0061
65:2229X 0:1066 * 1:8793X 0:1421
102:3529X 0:2539 * 1:5230X 0:0112
21:8953X 0:0389 * 1:3949X 0:0598
95:4882X 0:3982 * 2:0186X 0:0774
417:3977X 0:0304 * 1:0692X 0:0812
9:2448X 0:4256 * 1:5467X 0:0124

9
Estimated values
in X 15

Variation
di erence

Q1

15

Q15

j1 15 j

1.1948
1.2644
1.4171
1.4366
2.0102
1.2924
1.9266
1.2696
1.8793
1.5230
1.3949
2.0186
1.0692
1.5467

59.62
54.27
45.75
44.87
29.11
52.43
30.65
53.92
31.60
41.40
46.79
28.96
74.56
40.55

1.3677
1.7259
1.9161
1.5867
1.3236
1.1903
1.1933
1.2907
1.2790
1.5699
1.1863
1.6369
1.3322
1.5995

48.15
35.15
30.85
39.19
50.55
60.02
59.75
52.54
53.29
39.75
60.37
37.62
50.06
38.78

0.1729
0.4615
0.4990
0.1501
0.6866
0.1021
0.7333
0.0211
0.6003
0.0469
0.2086
0.3817
0.2630
0.0528

Table 1. Results of the evaluation by using the tendency equation.

Setting standard time using work achievement quotient

3951

and a point S to be found is:

S Y1 Y2 =2
49:1021 10:1102 49:1021 150:1102=2

Downloaded by [University Of Maryland] at 14:25 07 November 2014

42:77:

10

Therefore, the standard time of 1st element work is 43 s.

In the case that the work achievement quotient and the variation di erence do
not reach the standard values, a time value corresponding to an abnormal value is
deleted on the tendency diagram until they reach the standard values (it means the
fact that the tendency line becomes an approximately parallel state with respect to
the axis of abscissas). Also, there is adopted the tendency equation under a state that
they reached the standard values. The setting of the standard time is the same as the
case in which the standard value is satised.
In the following, the third element work is explained as an example. The tendency
chart of the third element work is shown in gure 3.
Its tendency equation is given by expression of the 3rd element work in table 1:
0:4363
0:1140
Y 75:9976X
:
* 1:4171X

11

In equation (11), the work achievement quotient is 45.75% at X1 and 30.85% at

X15 . The variation di erence is 0.4990.
In the above tendency equation, the work achievement quotient does not meet
the standard value except for the value of 45.75%. Therefore, after omitting point (a)
in gure 3, which corresponds to an abnormal value, the tendency equation is prepared again. The tendency equation is given by expression (12):

Figure 3. Tendency chart of the third element work in the cargo process.

3952

S. Nakayama et al.

Downloaded by [University Of Maryland] at 14:25 07 November 2014

0:0110
0:2752
Y 80:6399X
:
* 1:3355X

12

This time, the work achievement quotient is 49.88% at X1 and 52.13% at X15 , and
the variation di erence is 0.0382. These gures all meet the standard value. By
adopting the tendency equation that meets the standard value, the standard time
is set up.
Here, the standard time is calculated based on a case when the two standard
values are satised concurrently, as mentioned in the main text (this means that the
worker is nearly perfectly skilled in the work). However, the worker is required to
have completed a certain amount of training. It may look strict, but it is not specically considered as an allowance time. In this research paper, the performance
results are shown with time-series points and there are advantages in that operating
improvements can be achieved easily and the standard time can be realized more
quickly.
4.

Conclusions
The standard time was set by taking out the cargo process in the vehicle safety
inspection service for fork-lift trucks and performing its work evaluation. The vehicle safety inspection service for fork-lift trucks is a manual work, and a work whose
dispersion is large. Since the method of setting the standard time by using the
tendency equation treats the data in a time series, it is possible to investigate a
cause for the dispersion corresponding to an abnormal value so that the work can
be improved. Therefore, it is possible not only to set the standard time, but also it
becomes possible for a worker to perform the standard work faster. This method is
easy in its calculation, and the standard time can be calculated with few statistical
data.
References
Holmes, W. G ., 1938, Applied Time and Motion Study (New York: Ronald).
Ikenaga, K ., 1977, Work Measurement and Standard Time (Nikkan-Kogyo-Shinbun-Sya)
[in Japanese].
Maynard, H. B ., 1963, Industrial Engineering Hand Book, 2nd edn (New York: McGrawHill).
Maynard, H. B., Stegemerten, G. J. and Schwab, J. L ., 1948, Methods Time Measurement
(New York: McGraw-Hill).
Nakayama, S ., 1978, On the estimation of workers using RS-method. Proceedings of the
International Conference of Cybernetics and Society, pp. 390393.
Nakayama, S. and Nakayama, K ., 1992, An evaluation of workers on the work production.
Proceedings of the Pacic Conference on Manufacturing, pp. 813817.
Nakayama, S. and Nakayama, H., 1995, An evaluation of muer and exhaust pipe assembling work. Proceedings of the 10th Annual International Industrial Ergonomics and
Safety Conference, pp. 409415.
Nakayama, S. and Nakayama, K ., 2000, A study on the line balancing of an automobile
assembly. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Engineering and
Automation, pp. 450455.
Nakayama, S. and Nakayama, K ., 2001, A study on setting time using work achievement
quotient. Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Production Research [CDROM].
Nakayama, S. and Sakai, R ., 1979a, on the learning and the work achievement of the
worker. Japanese Journal of Ergonomics, 15, 362364 [in Japanese].
Nakayama, S. and Sakai, R ., 1979b, The dynamic estimation of the type work. Japanese
Journal of Ergonomics, 4955.

Setting standard time using work achievement quotient

3953

Downloaded by [University Of Maryland] at 14:25 07 November 2014

Nakayama, S. and Sakai, R ., 1983, The study of the hard work. Journal of the Faculty of
Science and Technology, Meijo University, no. 23, 9096 [in Japanese].
Nakayama, S. and Sakai, R ., 1985, An evaluation of work performance using a work
achievement quotient. International Journal of Production Research, 23, 879885.
Quick, J. H., Shea, W. J. and Kehler, R. E., 1945, Motion time standard. Factory
Management and Maintenance, 103, 97108.