Work. Study Can Be Widely Applied
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" WE must forget the popular idea that
work study is useful only on large-scale repetitive work. On the contrary, we must realize that work study can be applied to practically the whole range of human activity."
This was stated by Mr. D. McKenna, assistant general manager, British Railways, Southern Region, when he addressed the Metropolitan Section of the Institute of Transport last Monday on " Work Study in Transport."
A well-known undertaking applied method study to the inspection routine for their fleet of articulated tankers. A flow process chart was constructed to show exactly what a fitter did, and as a result of an examination of this chart a new routine was introduced. The distance walked by the fitter during the monthly .inspection was reduced by 60 per cent. and his working time on the vehicle by 34 per cent.
Mr. McKenna gave some examples of how the railways were applying work study. in the Woking district, the technical staff engaged on maintenance of the track were now employed under an incentive-bonus scheme devised after a study of their task, and a saving of 13 per cent. in labour cost relative to work achieved had resulted.
Half of the outdoor staff Of the chief civil engineer's department were employed under work-study conditions, and it was expected that the whole of the staff would be covered by the end of this year.