When we have analyzed a number of operations,

seeking the answer to these requirements,

we reach the conclusion that all operations can
first of all be broken down into two or more of
the following basic elements:
1. Agetting of the material or tool from some
place or someone.
2. A temporary placing of this material or
tool in some designated spot or position.

3. A processing of the material or a use of the

tool.
4. A the (finished) material or
final placing of
(finished with) tool in some place (or with someone).
5. Delay.
This first breakdown we call the "First Degree
of Analysis/' and to the first four basic elements
we assign the designation "Work Elements" and
name them in order:
1. "Get."
2. "Place" (temporary).
3. "Process."
4. "Place" (final).
The "Delay" element will be considered later.
Before we go any further, let us define each
of the "Work elements" so that we shall have
a common basis for our judgments in future
analyses:
"Get"
A "Get" element that part, or section, of
is
an operation used for the general purpose of
getting control of a material or tool.
It usually begins with a movement of the
9
MOTION STUDY FOE THE SUPERVISOR
future controlling agent to the material or tool
and does not end until the material or tool is
under complete control. (A material or tool is
under complete control only when free to move
directly toward its intended location.)
Example: Operator reaches into the tote pan
for one part. Parts are tangled together,
and so he must separate the one part. The
"Get" element is not completed until that
one part is completely separated. (The
movement of the future controlling agent
was the movement of the hand to the tote
pan.)
"Place"
A "Place" element is that part, or section, of
an operation used for the general purpose of
bringing a material or tool to a definite location.
It usually begins with a movement of the
controlling
agent to the general vicinity of the intended
location of the material or tool and does
not end until the controlling agent is entirely
clear of the material or tool or any restrictions
on or about it.

Example: Operator has the part held in tongs.

He moves the part into the die nest, fits
the part to the location pins, opens the tongs
and moves the tongs clear of the part.
"Process"
A "Process" element is that part, or section,
of an operation wherein the material undergoes
a change in some characteristic or where a job
requirement is satisfied.
Example: Operator has a drill point contacting
a bar of cast iron. The "Process" element
includes the action from the time the
drill starts to cut until the drill breaks
through on the opposite side and the drill
bit is withdrawn (or until the hole is at the
desired depth and the drill bit is withdrawn).
This would be written as "Drill hole," and
the size would be given.

THE SECOND DEGREE OF ANALYSIS

Transport Empty T.E.

Preposition P.P.
Grasp. G.
"Transport Empty" is
the name of the classification
used whenever
an action results in
moving a future controlling
agent to, or to
the vicinity of, a wanted
object
"Preposition" is the
name of the classification
used whenever an
action results in preparing
a future controlling
agent (or the object
under control) for
the performance of
some subsequent act
"Grasp" is the name of
the classification used
whenever the result of
an action tends to bring
an object under control.
(This means that any
movement caused by
any hindrance to, or
obstruction in the way
of, a free access to an
object is chargeable to
"Grasp")
(1)
(2)
(3)
17
MOTION STUDY FOR THE SUPERVISOR
Following are several simple illustrations of
these classifications as you will encounter them
in the usual "Get" element.
Example: "Get nut."
An operator dismantling an assembly takes a
nut off a stud with his fingers.
Classifi-
Description of Action cation
Move hand to nut so that fingers may be able
to close on nut T.E.
(Move a controlling agent to a wanted object)
Open fingers during travel of hand so that span
between fingers is greater than span of nut P.P.
. .

(Prepare the controlling agent)

G.
Close fingers on nut
Back nut off bolt as far as possible
Open fingers
Turn hand to get new hold on nut
Close fingers on nut
Back nut completely off bolt
(Obtain complete control of the object)

THE "PLACE" ELEMENT

Name Abbreviation
Definition
Shown on
page 28
under
Transport Loaded T.L.
Preposition
Position. .

P.P.
P.
Release Load R.L. . .

"Transport Loaded" is
the name of the classification
used whenever
an action results in moving
an object to, or to
the vicinity of, a predetermined
location
(See "Get" element)
"Position" is the name of
the classification used
whenever an action results
in bringing one object
into exact relationship
with another
"Release Load" is the
name of the classification
used whenever the
result of an action tends
toward losing control
over an object

Example: "Place screw in tapped hole."

Operator has screw between fingers, threaded
end of screw down.
Description of Action Motion
Move screw to directly above tapped hole T.L.
Line up end of screw with tapped hole
Back up screw until threads of both screw and P.
tapped hole line up
Turn screw engaging threads of screw and
tapped hole R.L.
Open fingers, releasing screw

THE "PROCESS" ELEMENT

We said that the work from
the time the drill point contacted the piece until
the drilling was finished and the bit withdrawn
belonged under the "Process" heading.

THE "DELAY" ELEMENTS

PHYSICAL TYPE
A FIRST Degree of Analysis breakdown of an
average operation is composed of some sequence
of "Work elements" in occasional combination
with interspersed "Delay
"
elements. The "Delay"
elements have nothing in common with
the "Work elements." As the name implies, they
are the direct opposite. They cover those sections
of the operation where no value is added to
the part, because of a lack of action.
There are two classes of "Delay," physical
delay and mental delay. Ordinarily, physical
delay is caused by the layout of the operation,
lack of training in the correct method or lack of
normal effort on the part of the operator. The
first two items cause the same types of "Delay"
elements and will be considered together. The
last item, considered a "Delay" element in
itself, is called "Avoidable Delay" and will be
considered later.
THE "DELAY" ELEMENTS
The "Delay" elements caused by the layout
of the operation or by lack of training in the
correct method are as follows :

A simple example of "Hold" can probably be

found by everyone without much trouble, but
to illustrate the combination of "Work elements"
and "Delay" elements, we give the following
example:
Operator's job is to solder joint between water
tank and radiator core. The parts are in a solder-

We should like to point out that the "Wait

for temperature test" is charged to U.D. (that
delay outside the control of the operator), instead
of to "Hold solder/' because it was caused
by the present layout of the operation, wherein

it isnecessary to wait for the temperature test,

rather than by the need to support the solder.
At the present time it may seem immaterial
what name we give the "Delay" as long as we
recognize it, but in later sections we shall find
that correctly classifying the "Delays" will aid
us considerably in improving the operation (also
true of "motions," as pointed out previously).
"Avoidable Delay" (A.D.) has many synonyms.
Some of them are "soldiering," "operator
idle" (not aUowable), "W.P.A.," and a host of
others. There are many different ways of saying
it. Essentially, this element covers all operatoridle
time (except personal) that he or she is able
to control. It is frequently encountered and, if a
regular occurrence, should be listed in its proper
sequence. Otherwise, it should be disregarded
and left out of the usual sequence of "Work" and
"Delay" elements.

THE "DELAY" ELEMENTS

MENTAL TYPE
THE field of mental delay is a varied one.
However, can be divided into two classes.
it
First, the mental delay caused by sensory
impressions and, second, the mental delay
caused by thinking or reasoning.
Fortunately, the receiving of sensory impressions
and the attendant mental delay may be
measured upon standardization, in the same
manner as physical operations. It is believed that
the reaction to these sensory impressions becomes
a habit just as physical movements well
learned become a habit, provided that the causes
of the sensory impressions are kept within
easily remembered limits. In other words, if
our job is inspecting the surface of flat sheets
and if upon encountering a marking of some
sort we find that the marking is standardizedand
easily remembered, our decision is automatic.
We make up our mind immediately as to
whether it goes or does not go. On the other
hand, if the marking is unusual, we depart from
the field of automatic reactions and enter the
field of thinking, or reasoning, which varies with
the individual and does not lend itself to
standardization.
The mental delay in the production-type job,
due to its standardization, usually falls in the
sensory class. The simplest type of inspection,
where the sole duty is either to pass or to reject
articles according to measurements of certain
dimensions or to surface quality where the
defects are easily remembered, also belongs to
this class. More complicated inspection, such as
the final passing on an assembled radio chassis,
where almost any defect is likely to appear but
never twice in a row, and the mental delay
encountered in jobbing-type operations fall into
the second class.
Although the following "Delay" elements are
technically applicable to both classes, we shall
concentrate on the ones usually associated with
the sensory-impression type of mental delay
47
MOTION STUDY FOR THE SUPERVISOR
and barely mention the others except to name
and define them.