Methods-Time Measurement
MTM (of English. Methods -time measurement, in German also workflow - time analysis, AAZ ) is a method for the analysis of workflows and determination of plan and standard times. It is the most widely used " system of predetermined times" in the work -study.
History
Originally the American Frank Bunker Gilbreth dealt in 1910 with the theme of human movement process. Asa B. Segur succeeds then the Gilbrethschen Therbligs assign time values. This movement can be quantitatively evaluated. Segur published in 1926 his work under the title "Motion Time Analysis" (MTA ).
By 1940, Herold Bright Maynard worked with John Schwab and Gustave webs Merten the fundamentals of MTM. Maynard founded in 1951, finally in New York "U. S. MTM Association for Standards and Research ", which the three rights transferred. To 1950 in Sweden and 1957 with the founding of the Swiss MTM Association in Switzerland first used systematically in the industry of European countries. In 1962, the German MTM Association was founded.
Area of application
MTM is - mainly in the industrial environment - used for planning manual workflows. Especially for mass production, it is important to identify as early as the planning phase, as long as a person for certain activities required.
Just place in planning processes MTM his reasoning, as to create an analysis only knowledge of the structure of the work system as well as an idea of the planned procedure are necessary. In contrast to the time recording by timer, it is not necessary to be found an existing process for the application of the method MTM.
Method
When using all the movements performed by the human MTM be attributed to certain basic movements, which are known, the time required. The slightest movement elements are recorded in MTM -1, the workflow in motion, such as " hinlangen ", " gripping ", " matching", " joining", "release ", supplemented by motion, such as "walking", " bending / stooping ", " Visual inspection " etc. divides. These basic elements of movement are shown in Tables empirically determined with the help of slow motion time alarms usually still depending on other parameters such as the distance traveled by the moving distance. You are at MTM -1 in English mnemonic codes (for example, "R" for Reach [ hinlangen ] ).
Here there is a further advantage of the MTM: By globally uniform coding of the motion elements, it is possible to generate an analysis that can be read and understood by trained staff around the world. Thus can be in a company that uniform procedures and methods implemented to make the one hand, uniform quality standards and on the other hand similar efforts to quantify.
It is assumed that the time determined by MTM corresponds to that which can be achieved by the average trained employees of a full working time. This corresponds to a power level of 100%. However, depending on the personal performance of employees can also be up to 130 % can be achieved.
The time unit used in the MTM analysis is the Time Measurement Unit. 1 TMU corresponds to 0.036 seconds, so 100,000 TMU correspond to an hour.
Summarized method to facilitate the application of
Based on MTM -1, there are compressed method, the basic movement elements of MTM -1 summed up in a first step ( for example, "Recording and place ", which is composed of the " hinlangen, grasping, bringing, joining and letting go " of a part ) and thus a rapid and often sufficiently accurate analysis of workflows allows.
In addition to the summary of elements of movement data in these methods systematically compressed so that one hand is practiced in MTM -1 Beidhand analysis ( left and right hands are according to fixed rules analyzed separately ) and on the other hand, the accuracy of parameters such as grasping distance and joining accuracy on a minimum can be broken down.
With these superior methods can be relatively quickly calculate the duration of complex workflows, with the accuracy only when a certain scope of analysis receives a sufficient statistical support system-related because of the larger and perhaps not always exactly right modules. This results from the balancing of individual errors by the Gaussian error compensation law according to which the total error is less than the sum of the individual errors.
Commonly used systems of this type are known under the names UAS ( Universal analyzing system ) for series production and MEK ( MTM in the individual and small series production ).
Based on these methods, there are compressed tables with pre-analyzed procedures for typical installation activities such as " screws ", " standard parts fit ", etc.
In this process also times for uninfluenceable activities or static holding work in addition to weighted methods for a standardized method included.
More compression stages for mapping enterprise- specific processes are formed over the compacted already by the MTM company value tables for the users in general, which allow the user easier to analyze their own processes.
MTM is used not only in planning but also to evaluate existing ones. The determined by MTM activity duration may be used for example as a basis for performance-based pay such as piece work.
Requirements of the user
A correct application of the MTM method requires the selection of the correct procedure, preceded by a close observation of the so-called methods levels in the work system.
To this end, in addition to the consideration of the frequency of repetition of individual chores heard the degree of organization in the work system and the occurrence of process times and static holding work, which can not be with the MTM method directly analyze. Where the MTM method limits, analysis etc. can be supplemented by data from other processes, such as time studies ( for example REFA ), mechanical data sheets, compare and treasures.
Finally, it is possible for the user only after an extensive training to apply the method properly because the user must exert numerous examples to obtain results that are comparable and reproducible. Finally, a detailed description of the work process at the right analysis is required. Ideally, two people, analyze where the same activity by MTM, get the same result.