Discussion Post: Work Design and Measurement
It is important that operations managers are comfortable analyzing business data, and then using the resultant information to make well-informed decisions that will ultimately improve operational efficiency, lower costs, improve "bottom line" performance, and decrease outcome variability that can be attributed to assignable causes. The unit reading will go over the concepts of methods analysis and the measurement of work. First, one employs methods analysis to breakdown a process into basic work tasks. Next, measurement samples are taken of how long it takes to complete each work task. Since there is usually variance in how long it takes workers to complete a task, statistical methods are utilized to estimate the percent of time a worker spends on the task, and how much is idle time. Once the methods analysis is complete, then it is possible to measure the time it takes to complete each work task. Basically you are using quantitative methods to measure work, rather than a subjective qualitative approach.
a) Perform descriptive analyses on datasets using Microsoft Excel.
b) Properly determine standard times for units of work using Microsoft Excel.
c) Calculate cycle time commonly associated with time studies for production using Microsoft Excel.
d) Use quantitative data as the basis for making suggested operational improvements within various organizational structures.
The response must include a reference list. Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, double-space, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.