Work Sampling

Work Sampling
• 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.
• Work sampling results are effective for determining machine and
personnel utilization, allowances applicable to the job, and
production standards.
• Work Sampling is a fact-finding tool. In many cases, this method can
obtain needed information about men or machines in less time and at
a lower cost than other means.
Work Sampling
Work sampling has three main uses;
1. Activity and Delay Sampling: to measure
the activities and delays of workers or machines. e.g. to determine the
percentage of the day that a person is working and the percentage that
he/she is not working.
2. Performance 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.
Work Sampling
Work Sampling is based upon the laws of
probability. A sample taken at random from a large
group tends to have the same pattern of distribution
as the large group or universe. If the sample is
large enough, the characteristics of the sample will
differ but little from the characteristics of the group.
• Sample: is the term used for this small number.
• Population or Universe: is the term used for large groups.
• Sampling: Obtaining and analyzing only a part of the
universe.
 Work Sampling: Example
Working: 36 observations
Idle: 4 observations
Total: 40 observations
Percentage of Idle time = (4/40 x 100) = 10%
Percentage of Working time = (36/40 x 100)
= 90%
On an 8hr working day;
480 x 0.10 = 48 mins the operator was idle
480 x 0.90 = 432 mins the operator was
working
Normal Distribution Curve
It is typical of the kind of frequency distribution which is important in the Work
Sampling because it represents graphically the probability of the occurrence of
certain chance phenomena.
Normal Distribution Curve
The formula for determining the sample size
for a confidence level of 68% or 1 sigma is:

Where;
S:Desired relative accuracy
p:Percentage expressed as a decimal
N:Number of random observations (Sample Size)
Normal Distribution Curve
• Fortunately, in a work sampling study, the analyst can determine in advance
the number of observations needed for a given degree of accuracy.
• For many kinds of measurement, an accuracy of +5 percent is considered
satisfactory.
• Assuming that the binomial distribution is used as the basis for determining the
error, then the formula for determining the number of observations required
is;
Example 2
Example 2
Suppose that a total of 100 observations were made, and in this preliminary study 25
observations showed the machines to be idle. (S = ±5% = ±0.05)
Therefore; the percentage of idle time = 25% (i.e. 25/100)
Example 2
Determination of Accuracy for a
Given Number of Observations
Assume that the final results of the study were as follows:
Observations of machines working: 2600
Observations of machines idle: 1400
Total observations: 4000
Then p = 1400 ÷ 4000 x 100 = 35% =0.35
Procedure for Making a Work
Sampling Study
1. Define the problem (state objectives + describe each element in
detail).
2. Obtain the approval of the supervisor of the department and make
sure operators and other people understand the purposes of the
study.
3. Determine the desired accuracy.
4. Make a preliminary estimate of the percentage of occurrence of the
activity or delay to be measured.
Procedure for Making a Work
Sampling Study
5. Design the study
• Determine the number of observations to be measured
• Determine the number of observers
• Determine the number of days or shifts needed to be studied
• Make a detailed plan for taking the observations, such as the
time and the route to be followed by the observer.
• Design the observation form.
6. Make observations according to the plan. Analyze and summarize the
data.
7. Check the accuracy or precision of the data at the end of the study.
8. Prepare the report and state conclusions. Make recommendations if
such are called for.
Determining Time Standards by
Work Sampling
• Sampling can be used for measuring work as well as for measuring delays, idle
times, and performance.
• Sampling can be used instead of time study for long activities.
• It is possible to determine by work sampling the percentage of the day that a
person is idle and the percentage of the day that he is working, as well as the
average performance index or speed at which he worked the working portion of
the day.
• For example, Assume that John Jones works an 8-hour day as a drill press
operator. A work sampling study might show that he was idle 15 percent of the
day or 72 minutes (480 x 0.15 = 72), and that he worked the remainder of the
day, or 408 minutes, at an average performance index of 110 percent. If the
record shows that he turned out 420 pieces of acceptable quality during the day,
the standard time for the operation he performed could be computed as shown.
Determining Time Standards by
Work Sampling
Establishing Time Standard for an
Assembly Operation
The following case illustrates how a time
standard was established on a mechanical
subassembly operation by work sampling.
Ten operators regularly performed this job,
and all ten were studied during a 3-day
period. Each day 240 observations were
made, making a total of 720 observations.
Of this number the analyst found the ten
operators working 711 times, and the
performance index was noted and
recorded for each of the 711 observations.
Nine times during the 3-day period, the
analyst observed the operators idle.
Establishing Time Standard for an
Assembly Operation
Some Advantages and Disadvantages of Work
Sampling in Comparison with Time Study
• Many operations or activities that 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 a
single observer. Ordinarily, an analyst is needed for each operator or machine when
continuous-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 continuous time study.
• Ordinarily work sampling is not economical for studying 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 statistical work sampling as readily as they
do time study.