Fatigue study : $b the elimination of humanity's greatest unnecessary waste. A first step in motion studyGilbreth, Lillian Moller
Science
Fatigue study : $b the elimination of humanity's greatest unnecessary waste. A first step in motion study
Gilbreth, Lillian Moller
Fatigue; Industrial efficiency; Motion study
The survey should be made as soon as plans for making it are completed,
and before any changes in the actual practice are made. If there is
any idea of changing the type of management, it may well be made even
before such a change is thoroughly outlined. It is the first step to
be taken by any organization which is thinking of introducing the
scientific type of management. The entire “plant” should be surveyed.
The work should start where there is the most fatigue, and where the
greatest amount of good can be done immediately. This, for several
reasons; such as:
1. The largest amount of waste can thus be eliminated.
2. The co-operation of the workers will be most quickly gained. This
will be true not only of the workers actually studied, but of all of
the workers in the organization. They will appreciate the attitude
of the new management, and will be glad to help if they can see the
actual benefit from the start.
3. The survey maker will become encouraged as he sees his data
successfully used.
4. The survey, if made by an amateur, will help him when he attacks
more difficult problems.
If the survey maker is an amateur, he had best begin where working
conditions most demand betterment. It is simpler to record working
conditions than to describe the worker or the method by which the work
is done. A really adequate record of a worker requires a knowledge of
physiology and psychology. An adequate record of method requires an
expert knowledge of motion study. A preliminary record of fatigue of
all sorts may be made by an amateur. He had best, however, get his
practice in recording working conditions. Moreover, it will be best
to observe a worker who is known to be co-operative at the start. The
co-operation of the worker is the most important element in getting
accurate records. Such workers will also help from the start to suggest
or invent devices for eliminating fatigue, if they are started thinking
along these lines. Later, one can handle the non-co-operative as one
becomes more practised, and there is always the likelihood that, by
the time one gets to these at first non-co-operative workers, their
attitude will have been changed by the good results and the general
sympathy towards the fatigue survey.
The Qualification of the Survey Maker.
The survey maker must be an accurate observer. He must be able to see
what the conditions really are, and to describe and record what he sees
in simple, clear language that will enable others to understand what
he says. The survey may be made by any one of several types of survey
maker:
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