Motion Study
A Method for Increasing the Efficiency of the Workman

VARIABLES OF THE WORKER 23 are nothing compared with those that the employer ex- periences who puts the good points of both systems on any one job. Not only do habitual motions become fixed, but also the previous experience of the bricklayer is often the cause of his making too many motions, i.e., unnecessary motions. He seldom, if ever, has been rigidly trained to use a certain number of definite motions. It takes time and patience to induce him to adopt a standard method. On a small job it is advisable to select those men for the leads and the trigs who are best fitted to be leaders, that is, who are best prepared by previous experience to carry out without delay the requirements of the instruction cards — but give due consideration to the previous ex- perience and habits of work of the workmen. On a large job, however, it is most economical to insist on standard methods and standard motions that will pro- duce the highest outputs, without regard to the previous training of the workmen. Attract and retain those work- men who can follow out their instruction card and as a result produce the high records of outputs. Fatigue Fatigue is an important variable to consider when selecting those motions that will give the most economy and that make the “standard motions.” It goes without saying that the motions that cause the least fatigue are the most desirable, other things being equal.