Techniques of scientific management

Standardisation sets uniform standards, such as for quality. Simplification reduces unnecessary product varieties, so it is the technique needed here.

Reducing product varieties is simplification. Standardisation sets uniform specifications, including measurements, so differing measurements indicate that standardisation is incomplete.

Standard output is found by dividing total available time by the time required per unit: \(450 \div 15 = 30\). Therefore, 30 units is correct. Producing 25 units would require only 375 minutes, so it does not represent the output possible in the available time. Exam tip: In time-study numericals, use total available time ÷ time per unit.

The worker produced 94 units, which is above the standard of 90 units. Therefore, the high rate of ₹5 per unit applies to the entire actual output of 94 units. Wage = 94 × ₹5 = ₹470. ₹450 would result from applying the rate only to the 90 standard units, but wages are calculated on actual output. Exam tip: first compare output with the standard, then multiply the applicable rate by total output.

The direct answer is A, role clarity will reduce. Functional foremanship divides supervision among specialists, and each specialist has a defined responsibility. The speed boss is concerned with maintaining the planned pace of work, whereas the inspector checks the quality of completed work. If they exchange roles, workers may not know who should control speed and who should check quality. Instructions can conflict, supervision becomes confused, and accountability becomes unclear. Option A is correct because the immediate problem is loss of role clarity. Option B, simplification, concerns reducing unnecessary variety in products or processes and does not follow from exchanging supervisors. Option C, time study completion, is not guaranteed by a role exchange. Option D, storage reduction, concerns inventory and has no logical connection. Memory cue: specialist roles must remain distinct for clear supervision.

A time standard specifies the time allowed for a task under a particular method. If the method changes and the task takes less time, the time standard should be reviewed and updated as needed.

Motion study examines movements to eliminate unnecessary ones, such as excess walking. Time study determines the standard time for a task, which can be used to set an output target. Therefore, the two techniques are motion study and time study.

Simplification reduces unnecessary variety in a product or its options. Since the problem is the excessive number of colour choices, simplification is the relevant technique.

The instruction card clerk prepares and issues the instruction card explaining how the job is to be done. The missing written instructions point to this planning-office role.

The time and cost clerk keeps records of the time and cost of operations. Those records help compare actual costs with standard costs.

The inspector checks the quality of the work and identifies defects. Deliberately ignoring instructions is a discipline issue, which is handled by the disciplinarian.

Standardisation sets consistent specifications for items such as tools. When tools follow the same standards, instructions for using them can also be more consistent, which supports training new workers.

The correct answer is fatigue study. It identifies physical and mental fatigue during work and helps determine suitable rest intervals. Setting a high output target without providing breaks ignores this study. Time study is concerned with fixing the standard time and work target, whereas rest intervals are mainly addressed through fatigue study. Exam tip: Words such as rest, breaks, or fatigue usually point to fatigue study.

Simplification reduces unnecessary product variety. Since the stated cost problem comes from too many variants, simplification is the appropriate technique.

Written work instructions are related to instruction card clerk. Exam tip: connect written instructions with this post.

The governing concept is Taylor’s functional foremanship, under which each specialist handles a distinct production responsibility. The speed boss supervises the pace of work and helps ensure that workers achieve the required speed after the proper method and instructions have been established. Since the machines are functioning correctly, a repair boss is not the appropriate choice. A time-and-cost clerk belongs to the planning side and records time and cost information rather than directly controlling worker pace. A gang boss handles the arrangement and direction of workers, but the specific clue of failure to maintain required speed points most directly to the speed boss. Therefore option C is correct.

Improving the whole process and material flow is part of method study. Exam tip: connect material flow with method study.

Reducing unnecessary hand movement is motion study. Exam tip: connect hand movement with motion study.

The governing concept is the correct sequence of method study followed by time study. Method study first selects the best way of performing a job by examining movements, tools, layout, and procedure. Time study then measures how long a qualified worker should take when using that established method at a normal pace. If the method is not selected first, the measured time may belong to an inefficient, wasteful, or unnecessarily difficult procedure. Consequently, the resulting standard may be inaccurate, unfair, or unsuitable for performance evaluation. Therefore option A is correct. The other choices claim automatic improvements in simplification, fatigue, or quality, none of which follows merely from measuring time.

Standard output is found by dividing the total available time by the time required per unit: \(500 \div 10 = 50\). Therefore, the standard output is 50 units. Options such as 45 or 55 units would respectively imply a lower or higher output than the given time standard allows. Exam tip: In time-study questions, first ensure that both time values use the same unit, then calculate total time ÷ time per unit.

Output above standard gets the high rate on all output. Exam tip: compare output with standard first.

The direct answer is A, ₹396. First compare production with the standard: 66 units is less than 70 units, so the worker is below standard. Under the stated differential wage rule, the lower rate applies. The lower rate is ₹6 per unit. Multiply accepted output by the applicable rate: \\(66\\times ₹6=₹396\\). Option A is correct. Option B, ₹420, equals \\(70\\times ₹6\\), so it uses the standard quantity rather than the worker’s actual output. Option C, ₹440, does not result from the given quantity and rate. Option D, ₹462, would require a different rate or calculation. The key is to use actual units produced after selecting the correct rate, not the standard units.

Uniform quality is standardisation but reducing unnecessary designs is simplification. Exam tip: identify quality and variety separately.

Poor ventilation is a working condition that increases fatigue. Exam tip: connect working conditions with fatigue study.

Useless finger and body movements are the subject of motion study. Exam tip: remember the body movement clue.