Techniques of scientific management

Fatigue study finds causes of fatigue and fixes proper rest. Exam tip: connect fatigue with rest interval.

More efficient worker gets payment at a higher rate. Exam tip: remember higher output higher rate.

Work study includes these four main studies. Exam tip: remember method motion time fatigue together.

The direct answer is C, standardisation. In scientific management, standardisation means deciding a fixed and uniform standard for tools, equipment, materials, methods, or measurements. Thus, when every worker uses the same tools and the same measurements, the company is applying standardisation. Option A, simplification, means reducing unnecessary varieties and types; it may support efficiency, but it is not the precise technique named in the question. Option B, fatigue study, examines when workers become tired and how rest pauses can be arranged. Option D, differential wages, pays different rates according to performance or output. None of those defines uniform tools and measurements. Exam cue: words such as uniform, fixed standard, same size, and same measurement point to standardisation.

The governing concept is simplification, a technique of Taylor’s scientific management. Simplification means reducing unnecessary variety in products, sizes, designs, models or processes while retaining the versions that are useful to customers and efficient to produce. If a company removes surplus models and keeps a smaller standard range, planning, purchasing, production, storage and maintenance generally become easier and more economical. Therefore option A is correct. Time study measures the time needed to complete a task. Motion study examines and removes unnecessary worker movements. Inspection checks whether output meets quality requirements. Those techniques may improve efficiency, but none specifically means reducing product variety.

Choosing the best work method is method study. Exam tip: choose method study when best method is indicated.

Motion study examines the movements performed by a worker while completing a task and seeks to eliminate unnecessary, avoidable or inefficient motions. Removing repeated bending, standing or reaching movements is therefore a direct application of motion study. It can make work smoother and may reduce wasted effort and fatigue, but the defining focus in this question is the analysis and elimination of body movements. Hence option C is correct. Fatigue study focuses on rest pauses and reducing exhaustion, time study determines the standard time for a task, and method study compares alternative ways of doing work. Those ideas may be related, but they are not the most precise answer here.

The direct answer is A, time study. Time study measures how much time a qualified worker, using a specified method and working at a reasonable pace, should take to complete a task. The measured result helps set a standard time for the job. Option A is therefore correct. Option B, motion study, examines the individual movements of a worker and removes unnecessary movements; it is about how the work is done, not primarily the time required. Option C, standardisation, fixes uniform standards for tools, materials, methods, or conditions, but it does not specifically measure task time. Option D, simplification, reduces unnecessary varieties and complexity. A stopwatch or the phrase “standard time” is a strong clue for time study. Do not confuse time study with motion study: time asks “how long?” while motion asks “which movements?”

Fixing rest intervals is related to fatigue study. Exam tip: choose fatigue study when you see rest interval.

Higher rate for higher output is differential piece wage system. Exam tip: remember high output high rate.

Under Taylor’s functional foremanship, work is divided between planning and production specialists. The route clerk belongs to the planning department and determines the route or sequence through which work should pass. This information guides the production side. Therefore option B is correct. The speed boss, repair boss and inspector are production-department specialists: the speed boss ensures the proper working speed, the repair boss looks after machines and repairs, and the inspector checks quality. Remembering the planning group separately—route clerk, instruction card clerk, time and cost clerk, and disciplinarian—helps distinguish the correct answer from the production-side roles.

Speed boss is a production department specialist. Exam tip: remember gang speed repair inspector under production side.

Simplification may reduce cost and confusion through fewer varieties. Exam tip: remember cost saving as a benefit of simplification.

Method study analyses alternative procedures for doing a job and selects the simplest, safest and most efficient method. Hence, it is related to finding the best method of doing work. Fixing standard time is part of time study, while studying unnecessary movements is associated with motion study. Exam tip: link “best method” or “best way” with method study.

Removing unnecessary motions saves time and energy. Exam tip: write efficiency as the result of motion study.

Standard time helps fix proper production targets. Exam tip: connect output target with time study.

Proper rest reduces fatigue and maintains efficiency. Exam tip: connect fatigue study with rest and efficiency.

Standard output is calculated by dividing the total available time by the time required per unit: \(480 \div 8 = 60\). Therefore, the correct answer is 60 units. Producing 55 units would take 440 minutes, so it is not the standard output based on the available time. Exam tip: in time-study questions, first ensure that the time units are the same, then use total time ÷ time per unit.

Output above standard gets the higher rate. Exam tip: connect output above standard with high rate.

Taylor’s differential piece-rate system rewards workers who meet or exceed the standard with a higher piece rate and applies a lower rate to those whose output falls below the standard. The standard here is 50 units, while actual output is only 45 units. Since 45 is less than 50, the worker has not reached the standard and the lower rate applies. Therefore option B is correct. The higher rate would be appropriate only at or above the required standard according to the stated scheme. Double rate is not automatically implied, and “no rate” is incorrect because the worker still earns wages for the units produced.

Hand and body movements are studied in motion study. Exam tip: remember motion study when you see movement.

The best way of the whole process is found in method study. Exam tip: connect process and best way with method study.

Time study gives standard time which helps set targets. Exam tip: remember target from standard time.

The need for rest is identified through fatigue study. Exam tip: connect rest need with fatigue study.

Keeping fewer varieties is a main part of simplification. Exam tip: connect fewer varieties with simplification.