Primer of Scientific Management

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1914 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II LAWS OR PRINCIPLES OF SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT Time Study What is the fundamental of Scientific Management? The great fundamental of Scientific Management is time study. On time study hangs the entire plan of the Taylor system of management. The apparently simple art of time study is in reality a great invention, for, previous to Taylor's discovery of it, there was no practical way of predetermining or prophesying accurately the amount of work that a man could do before he actually commenced to do it. Any plan of management that does not include Taylor's plan of time study cannot be considered as highly efficient. We have never seen a case in our work where time study and analysis did not result in more than doubling the output of the worker. The greatest need to-day, as Dr. Taylor has already pointed out, is a handbook of time study data for assisting the workers to earn higher wages and the management to secure lower production costs. It is hoped that the day will soon arrive when the colleges will cooperate in undertaking this work in accordance with a definite plan, with a national bureau in charge of the entire work. 12 What are the purposes of Time Study? The purposes of the scientific study of unit times are five, as follows: -- 1. To obtain all the existing information about the art or trade being investigated that is possessed by the present masters, journeymen, and experts of that trade, who obtained the most of their information through the "journeyman to apprentice method" of teaching. 2. To get the most exact information regarding the time required to perform each smallest element of the operation, so that in building up the standard method synthetically the quickest elements and motions may be selected, in order...