Motion Study
A Method for Increasing the Efficiency of the Workman

16 MOTION STUDY Example. — On engine beds and similar work, where the pieces are isolated, assigning gangs of men of different nationalities to the different beds will create extra interest in the contests. If this is not feasible, put the tall men on one bed and the short men on the other, or the single men against the married men, or eastern “ pick-and-dip men against western “string-mortar” men. Earning Power The matter of classifying men by their relative earning power is as important as classifying them by their relative brawn. It is better, of course, to have men as nearly as possible of one class only, and that the best class. Class- ing men by their earning power simplifies the work of the planning department in many ways. It enables it to pre- scribe the same motions to the entire class of men, to place them all under nearly the same conditions, to pre- scribe the same tools and surroundings, to place them together, and, finally, to have an athletic contest between the men of the same class. Furthermore, the motions to be made are often entirely different for workmen of different earning power. Examples. — i. With masons and laborers of low earn- ing power it is sometimes advisable to place the brick on the packets any way that will give the fewest motions for loading the packets, and to let the bricklayers lay them with their customary numerous motions, until men of higher earning power may be obtained to take their places.