How to start
Prepare the assessment
In this first phase the assessor needs to well analyse and understand the process to be assessed, first by his own and then by interviewing the worker, so to have a clear and complete view of the situation. The main things to be determined and defined are:
the main operations of the work at issue;
the typology of each operation identified;
the single steps in which each operation considered is diveded.
The fundamental base in order to accomplish these three points is represented by the following tables, related to three main sections of this methodology:
in Figure 2 it is possible to see the 'General move sequence model' table:
Figure 2 - Images-MOST/ugim3.PNG
"General Move deals with the spatial displacement of one or more objects. Under manual control, the object follows an unrestricted path through the air. If the object is in contact with, restricted by or attached to another object during the move, the General Move Sequence Model is not applicable". (Kjell B. Zandin - MOST Work Measurement Systems)
Here it can be seen that the general sequence of letters describing the considered subactivities is made up by: A B G A B P A, where:
A = action distance: "this parameter is used to analyze all spatial movements or actions of the fingers, hands and/or feet, either loaded or unloaded"
B = body motion: "this parameter is used to analyze either vertical motions of the body or the actions necessary to overcome an obstruction or impairment to body movement"
G = gain control: "this parameter is used to analyze all manual motions (mainly finger, hand and foot) employed to obtain complete manual control of an object and release the object after placement"
P = placement: "this parameter is used to analyze actions at the final stage of an object’s displacement to align, orient and or engage the object with another object before control of it is relinquished".
In particular, since one of the objectives of the VLFT project is to create a link between this methodology and the OCRA kpis estimation methodology, and for the sake of clarity of the letter sequence, it has been assaigned a univocal sub-activity name to each single letter: A ---> move empty B ---> body motion G ---> pick object A ---> move object B ---> body motion P ---> place object A ---> move back in position
By looking at the descriptions in the cells of the table it is possible to identify for each letter which 'box' is the more adapted for the case under consideration.
in Figure 3 and 4 the 'Tool use sequence model' tables are shown:
Figure 3 - Images-MOST/ugim4.PNG
Figure 4 - Images-MOST/ugim5.PNG
"The Tool Use Sequence Model is comprised of phases and sub-activities from the General Move Sequence Model, along with specially designed parameters describing the actions performed with hand tools or, in some cases, mental processes required when using the senses as a tool". (Kjell B. Zandin - MOST Work Measurement Systems) So in this section the activities done with the aid of a tool are analysed, and the general sequence of letters is the foolowing: A B G A B P * A B P A, where:
A = action distance: "this parameter is used to analyze all spatial movements or actions of the fingers, hands and/or feet, either loaded or unloaded"
B = body motion: "this parameter is used to analyze either vertical motions of the body or the actions necessary to overcome an obstruction or impairment to body movement"
G = gain control. "this parameter is used to analyze all manual motions (mainly finger, hand and foot) employed to obtain complete manual control of an object and release the object after placement"
P = placement: "this parameter is used to analyze actions at the final stage of an object’s displacement to align, orient and or engage the object with another object before control of the object is relinquished"
For what regards the asterisk in the sequence, it has to be replaced with one of the following letters, refered to the specific tool actions applied:
F/L = Fasten or Loosen: this parameter is used to establish the time for manually or mechanically assembling/disassembling one object to another, using the fingers, hand or a hand tool"
C = Cut: "this parameter covers the manual actions employed to separate, divide or remove part of an object using a sharp-edged hand tool such as pliers, scissors or a knife"
S = Surface treat: "this parameter covers the activities aimed at removing unwanted material or particles from, or applying a substance, coating or finish to, the surface of an object"
M = Measure: "this parameter includes the actions employed in determining a certain physical characteristic of an object by using a standard measuring device"
R = Record: "this parameter covers the manual actions performed with a pencil, pen, marker, chalk or other marking tool for the purpose of recording information"
T = Think: "this parameter refers to the eye actions and mental activity employed to obtain information (read) or to inspect an object, including reaching to touch, when necessary, to feel the object"
In particular, since one of the objectives of the VLFT project is to create a link between this methodology and the OCRA kpis estimation methodology, and for the sake of clarity of the letter sequence, it has been assaigned a univocal sub-activity name to each single letter: A ---> move empty B ---> body motion G ---> pick object A ---> move object B ---> body motion P ---> place object F/L - C - S - R - M - T ---> tool action A ---> move object B ---> body motion P ---> place object A ---> move back in position
By looking at the descriptions in the cells of the table it is possible to identify for each letter which ‘box’ is the more adapted for the case under consideration. Of course for the letters A, B, G and P, the previous table related to the general move has to be considered for the choice.
in Figure 5 is finally showed the 'Controlled move sequence model' table:
Figure 5 - Images-MOST/ugim6.PNG
"Controlled Move describes the manual displacement of an object over a ‘controlled’ path. That is, movement of the object is restricted in at least one direction by contact with or attachment to another object or the nature of the work demands that the object be deliberately moved along a specific or controlled path". (Kjell B. Zandin - MOST Work Measurement Systems) Also here a general sequence of letters related to different sub-activities is considered: A B G M X I A, where:
A = action distance: "this parameter is used to analyze all spatial movements or actions of the fingers,vhands and/or feet, either loaded or unloaded"
B = body motion: "this parameter is used to analyze either vertical motions of the body or the actions necessary to overcome an obstruction or impairment to body movement"
G = gain control. "this parameter is used to analyze all manual motions (mainly finger, hand and foot) employed to obtain complete manual control of an object and release the object after placement"
M = Move controlled: "this parameter is used to analyze all manually guided movements or actions of an object over a controlled path"
X = Process time: "this parameter is used to account for the time for work controlled by electronic or mechanical devices or machines, not by manual actions"
I = Alignment: "this parameter is used to analyze manual actions following the Move Controlled or at the conclusion of Process Time to achieve the alignment of objects"
In particular, since one of the objectives of the VLFT project is to create a link between this methodology and the OCRA kpis estimation methodology, and for the sake of clarity of the letter sequence, it has been assaigned a univocal sub-activity name to each single letter: A ---> move empty B ---> body motion G ---> pick object M ---> move in contact X ---> process time I ---> align object A ---> move back in position
By looking at the descriptions in the cells of the table it is possible to identify for each letter which ‘box’ is the more adapted for the case under consideration. Of course for the letters A, B and G, the previous table related to the general move has to be considered for the choice.
To conclude this part, it is important to specify that for a complete understanding of the methodology and so of the way in which the activities have to be considered, it is possible to look at the "MOST Work Measurement Systems" book by Kjell B. Zandin. After this initial assessment it is possible now to go and see how the concrete application of the methodology works.
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