WORK SAMPLING

Lecturer: S.U.Sekiner
Source: Motion and Time Study
Design and Measurement of Work
 Key points
Work Sampling is a method for analyzing work
by taking a large number of observations at
random times.
Use work sampling to:
Determine machine utilization
Determine allowances
Establish time standards
Use as many observations as practical
Take observations at random times over two or
more weeks.
 Work sampling is a technique used to
investigate the proportions of total time devoted
to the various activities that constitute a job or
work situation.
The results of work sampling are effective for
determining machine and personnel utilization,
allowances applicable to the job and production
standards.
Work sampling frequently provides the same
information faster and considerably less cost
than time study.
 In conducting work sampling
studies;
Large number of observations at random
intervals,
The ratio of observations of a given activity
to the total observations approximates the
percentage of time that the process is in
that state of activity.
 Work sampling was first applied in the
British textile industry
Later, technique was brought to the United
States.
The accuracy of the data determined by
work sampling depends on the number of
observations and the period over which
the random observations are taken
 Advantages
1. It does not require continuous observation by
an analyst over a long period of time
2. Clerical time is diminished,
3. The total work-hours expended by the analyst
are usually much fewer,
4. The operator is not subjected to long period
stopwatch observations.
5. Crew operations can be readily studied by a
single analyst.
 Work sampling has three main
uses;
1. Activity and delay sampling (to measure the
activities and delays of workers or machines.
Ex:percentage of working
2. Perfomance sampling (to measure working
time and nonworking time of a person on a
manual task, and to establish a performance
index or performance level for the person during
his or her working time.
3. Work measurement (under certain
circumstances, to measure a manual task, that
is, to establish a time standard for an operation.
 Simple example of work sampling
The work sampling procedure in its simplest form
consists of making observations at random intervals of
one or more operators or machines and noting whether
they are working or idle.
For example;
Working=36
Idle=4
Total=40 observations
Percentage of idle time=(4/40)*100=10%
Percentage of working time=(36/40)*100=90%
If one operator performed task for an 8 hour day. Operator was
idle 48 minutes of the day (480*0,10=48) and was working 432
minutes of the day (480*0,90=432).
 The Theory of Work Sampling
The theory of work sampling is based on
the fundamental law of probability: at a
given instant, an event can be either
present or absent.
Random sampling requires that there be
no bias in the sampling process. It is
important that the concept of randomness
be understood and carefully followed in
work sampling studies.
 Confidence level
At the outset it is necessary to decide what level
of confidence is desired in the final work
sampling results.
The most common interval is 95%
The area under the curve at 2 sigma or two
standard deviations is 95.45 %.
This means that the probability is that 95% of the
time the random observations will represent the
facts and 5 percent of the time they will not.
The formula for determining the sample size for
a confidence level of 68 percent or 1 sigma is
S=desired relative accuracy, p=percentage
expressed as a decimal, N=number of random
observations (sample size)
p(1 p)
Sp
N
 Accuracy of work sampling
measurement
For many kinds of measurement an accuracy of +,-5
percent is considered satisfactory. This is sometimes
referred to as the standard error of the percentage.
Following illustrations we will assume that a confidence
level of 95% and an accuracy of +,-5% satisfactory. Also
assuming that the binomial distribution is used as the
basis for determining the error, the formula for
determining the number of observations required is
S=desired relative accuracy
p= percentage occurence of an activity or delay being
measured, expressed as a percentage of the total
number of observations or as a decimal
N=Total number of observations (sample size)
p(1 p)
Sp 2
N
 Example
Suppose we want to determine the percentage
of idle time of the automatic screw machines in a
department.
CL=95% error=+,-5 %
We want to know how many random
observations will be needed to give us the
desired results.
100 observations were made and preliminary
study 25 observations showed the machines to
be idle. (25%)
 Solution
N=? p=25% S=+,-5%=+,-0.05
p(1 p)
0.05 p 2
N

p (1 p ) 4 p (1 p )
0.0025 p 2
4
=
N N
4 p (1 p) 4(1 p ) 1600(1 p )
N 2

0.0025 p 0.0025 p p

1600(1 0.25)
4800
0.25
 Determination of Accuracy
Desired accuracy must be lower than 5%. For
example, if we calculates S is 3.5% then it is
sufficient result.
The accuracy or standard error of +,-3.5 percent
means that the results is correct within +,-3.5
percent of ex:30 percent (+,-3.5%*30%=1.05%)
or the value was between 28.95% and 31.05
percent.
The 95% CL means that the probability is that in
95 cases of 100 the above results will represent
the facts.
 Some Advantages and Disadvantages of Work
Sampling in Comparison with Time Study

Many operations or activities which are impractical or

costly to measure by time study can readily be measured
by work sampling.
A simultaneous work sampling study of several
operators or machines may be made by asingle
observer. Ordinarily an analyst is needed for each
operator or machine when continous time studies are
made.
It usually requires fewer man-hours and costs less to
make a work sampling study than it does to make a
continous time study.
Some Advantages and Disadvantages of Work
Sampling in Comparison with Time Study

Ordinarily work sampling is not economical for studying

a single operators or machines located over wide areas.
Time study permits a finer breakdown of activities and
delays than is possible with work sampling. Work
sampling cannot provide as much detailed information as
one can get from time study.
Management and workers may not understand stastical
work sampling as readily as they do time study.