Motion Study
A Method for Increasing the Efficiency of the Workman

VARIABLES OF THE SURROUNDINGS 63 flee that their one union may make in the world’s en- deavor to reduce the cost of living generally, is not properly offset by having any one trade or any one locality practic- ing intensive outputs. A few practical object lessons of the general increase in business resulting from higher wages and simultaneously created lower-production costs will, however, always convince the most prejudiced be- liever in artificially restricted maximum outputs. The compensat’on of workers will not be discussed here, although the basis of compensation does affect motions. Weight of Unit Moved Generally speaking, the weight of the unit moved is of three kinds: 1. The weight of that part of the body that is moved. 2 The weight of a tool used, such as a hammer or a trowel. 3. The weight of material used, such as a brick, or the mortar on the trowel. Other things being equal, the less of the body moved the less fatigue. The weight that the tool should be is determined by the use of the tool. In the case of a sledge hammer, in- creased weight means increased efficiency. A twenty-five pound sledge might break a block of granite in halves in five blows, while a ten pound hammer might require one hundred blows. In the case of a trowel, increased weight means decreased efficiency. 1 he heavier the trowel,