Motion Study
A Method for Increasing the Efficiency of the Workman

VARIABLES OF THE MOTION 67 be on separate springy planks, so that the transportation of the brick can be speeded up, in addition to the speed of the arms by simply throwing the body by the aid of the spring of the plank. (See Fig. 13.) Automaticity Nearly all often-repeated motions become automatic. This is especially true of motions that require no careful supervision of mind or eye. The automaticity of motions is of great assistance to the worker whose training and methods conform to stand- ardized motions. This fact makes it necessary to have the apprentice taught the right motions first, last, and always. The automaticity of motions is a hindrance to the worker who has been accustomed, to old-fashioned sur- roundings, equipment, and tools, and who must adapt himself to standard surroundings. Example. — A remarkable example of making unneces- sary motions as a. matter of habit is noticeable in places where the local bricklayers have been accustomed to laying brick that have a decided difference in the top and bottom. This difference makes it necessary to lay no brick upside down on the line. When these bricklayers first worked from packets with the brick in the right position to seize right-side up, they would invariably flop and spin each brick in their hands, first wrong-side up and then back again to the original right-side-up position.