Efficiency Methods
An Introduction to Scientific Management

94 EFFICIENCY METHODS motions for the piano and violin must be used from the first, if the pupil is to attain real facility. For facility means minimum effort, and the best motion is the one which produces the desired effect with the least fatigue. Returning to the industrial plane, stress is naturally laid chiefly on the fact that the best motions are generally the quickest motions, and therefore produce the best output. But stress is also laid by the instructors on the value of adopting the right motions from the first. The work of Mr. Gilbreth and others has established results so marvellous in saving time that it is no wonder that employers who hear of them are tempted to try the new methods of management by taking time and motion-study as a first step. Then, owing to too great haste in their experiments, and to beginning in the wrong place, they have often found scientific management a complete failure, and have brought the Taylorian methods into bad repute. Brief statistics have already been given as to the saving of time effected in shovelling and in bricklaying. Many people also must have been fired with emula- tion after reading of the operation at the Watertown arsenal. The making of a mould which used to take 53 minutes was reported by the time-study expert as easily made in 24 minutes. After some practice the average time taken by the men was 20 minutes, and one man turned them out during a whole day at an average rate of 16 minutes to each. But we have already been tempted into statistics