Showing posts with label June. Show all posts
Showing posts with label June. Show all posts

June 3, 2025

Evolution of Industrial Engineering and Productivity Management - Pioneering Efforts of Taylor, Gilbreth and Emerson

INTRODUCTION TO MODERN INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING. Version 3.0.  Very Popular Free Download EBook. 10750+ Downloads/Views so far. 









The contribution of Taylor is in multiple areas and was described in detail in this article. Gilbreth also made very important contributions including the development of the charts now the main tools of industrial engineering.

In the flow process chart, five activities or operations are recorded.

Material processing - Inspection - Material Handling and Transport - Shop floor delays - Warehousing or Controlled storage

In each of the activities or operations, there is role for machines, tools and operators. The work of machines are operators has to be documented in detail to be examined and improved.

Taylor's contribution is very significant in study and improvement of machine work. His contribution to study of operators' work was developed into a more detailed procedure by Gilbreth.

Harrington Emerson highlighted the production planning steps which are relevant in eliminating shop floor delays. The Japanese contribution to industrial engineering starts with eliminating the delays caused by large lot sizes. It redesigned all other operations of the process to achieve smaller batch quantities and became world standard even for the current times.

Contribution of F.W. Taylor to Industrial Engineering


F.W. Taylor started his career as a worker. He observed and concluded that as a worker he could produce much more than others in the shop without any additional strain. That experience gave a direction to his managerial career. Because his career started in machine shop, he realized the importance of potential of the machine work system to give increased output. If the machine related work elements are not functioning properly, the operator is handicapped. With a good machine and machine work system, the belief of the worker in benefits of producing maximum output every day is also required. When Taylor began his work as a shop engineer or manager, taking care of machines and methods during operations was not emphasized. The activities are left to foremen and operators and they were doing it based on their experience, available thumb rules and trial and error methods in each shop. Taylor was impressed by the scientific method of collection of experimental data or observation data and developing theories and laws. Based on his experiments and observations, Taylor developed efficient methods of machine shop work. He also started observing the working of operators and collecting data. Based on his long years executive work and consulting work, Taylor explained the productivity improvement in multiple presentations he made in annual conferences of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Thus, it has to be reiterated again that Taylor developed both scientific study of machine work and man work for increasing productivity in the machine shop. He also developed machine time determination formulas to assist in machine work study. The stop watch time study of work operators was developed to find the best practices of experienced operators to develop science of human effort. Improvement in working time due to various changes proposed by industrial engineers/scientific managers can be  validated by time study.

Taylor was involved in the activities of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) from the very early years. In year 1886, when Henry Towne called for the study of management, accounting and economics by engineers, Taylor was present in the meeting and he participated in the discussion of cost accounting system proposed by Metcalf. Thus Taylor already had active participation in study of accounting, economics and productivity improvement.

In 1893, Taylor  presented his first  paper on cost analysis and cost reduction based on redesign of engineering elements. It was on redesign of belt system based on collection of data for 10 years on cost of the belting system. Thus Taylor laid the strong foundation for redesign of engineering components and systems based on the accumulated cost data and economic decision making.

Important points in "Notes on Belting" (1893)


In using belting so as to obtain the greatest economy and the most satisfactory results, the following rules should be. observed :

The chief consideration in design of belting in industry has to be  how to get the maximum of work from belting ; while, in making up belting design tables, the two most important considerations — how to secure the minimum of interruptions to manufacture, and the maximum of durability — have to be given attention. The important consideration  in making up design tables and rules for the use and care of belting is how to secure the least possible interruption to manufacture due to repairs or correction to be made to belts.

Belts should be made heavier and run more slowly than indicated by present theory and design  rules  for reducing the belt cost (first cost + maintenance) as well as the cost due to frequent interruptions to manufacture. According to data accumulated,  by far the largest item in this account is the time lost on the machines while belts are being replaced and repaired.

As part of the cost study of belts, shifting and cone belts were compared. The important fact noticeable is the superiority of the shifting to the cone belts in every respect except the purchase price. But paying more at the time of purchase is beneficial as the operating and maintenance cost of substantially lower and hence to life time cost of shifting belts is low. The life of the shifting belts is on average  three times that of the cone. The total cost of the shifting belts per year of service is less than that of the cone. After 8.8 years of life the total cost of maintenance and repairs of the shifting belts amounts to only 30.4% of the original cost, while with the cone belts the maintenance and repairs through a life of 6.7 years amounts to one and one-half times the first cost.

The  interruptions to manufacture are nearly seven times as frequent with the cone as with the shifting belts. Each shifting belt required  tightening or repairing  on an average only 6 times during nine years, while the cone belts averaged 32 interruptions to manufacture in 0.7 years. The shifting belts having run on an average twenty-two months without tightening, while the cone belts ran only two and one-half months.

Summarizing,  we may state that the total life of belting, cost of maintenance and repairs, and the interruptions to manufacture caused by belts, are dependent upon

 (1) the " total load " to which they are subjected, more than upon any other condition ;

The most economical total load for belting must lie between 174 lbs. and 357 lbs. per square inch of section of belt.  The average total load on belting should be 200 to 225 lbs. per square inch section of belt. 

Six- and seven-ply rubber belts, and all double leather belts except oak tanned and fulled, will transmit economically a pull of 30 lbs. per inch of width to the rim of the pulley. 

Oak tanned and fulled double leather belts will transmit economically a pull of 35 lbs. per inch of width. 



The other conditions chiefly affecting the durability of belting are : 

(2) Whether the belts are spliced, or fastened with lacing or belt hooks. 

(3) Whether they are properly greased and kept clean and free from machinery oil. 

(4) The speed at which they are run. 

The most economical speed for belting is 4,000 to 4,500 feet per minute.




Subsequent to the presentation of papers on productivity gain sharing by Towne, and Halsey, Taylor presented his full productivity improvement systems that had three ideas in the paper on piece rate system. The precursor of industrial engineering department, elementary rate fixing department was proposed in this paper. This department has the responsibility of improving the machine, machine work and operator work and determine the time that is required to do various work elements. Time study to observe and record time taken to complete an element was proposed in this paper only. The improvement carried out in various engineering elements related to machine and machine work were briefly described in this paper.

Frederick Taylor's Elementary Rate-fixing Department (Industrial Engineering Department).


From the paper, Piece Rate System, 1895

The advantages of this system of management (Taylor's Piece Rate System) are :

The manufactures are produced cheaper under it.
The system is rapid  in attaining the maximum productivity of each machine and man

The writer introduced a new system of management in the works of the Midvale Steel Company, of Philadelphia. It was employed in organization for  past ten years with the most satisfactory results.

The system consists of a principal element: An elementary rate-fixing department (productivity department).

Elementary rate-fixing differs from other methods of making piece-work prices in that a careful study is made of the time required to do each of the many elementary operations into which the manufacturing of an establishment may be analyzed or divided. The times for elementary operations are recorded under various classified heads to facilitate retrieving them when needed.

The rate-fixing department has equal dignity and commands equal respect with the engineering and managing departments and is organized and conducted in an equally scientific and practical manner. It contributes value to the organization and justifies its existence and the expenses incurred including the salaries paid to the department personnel.

This elementary system of fixing rates has been in successful operation for the past ten years, successfully covering the wide a range of manufacturing activities. This new system came into existence in 1883. While he was the foreman of the machine shop of the Midvale Steel Company of Philadelphia, it occurred to Taylor the writer that a better system of fixing piece rates was possible and it would be beneficial to both firm and the employee. The ideas was that it was simpler to time each of the elements of the various kinds of work done in the place, and then find the quickest time in which each element could be done under proper planning and standardization. The time required for  each job having various elements can be determined  by summing up the total times of the best or lowest times of its component parts instead of searching through the records of former jobs and guessing or estimating the proper piece rate.  Taylor, himself as the foreman practised  this method of rate-fixing for about a year as it is the responsibility of the foreman. Then he recommended to his company management to set up the rate-fixing department. From then onwards, the department successfully set the piece-work prices that gave higher productivity.

This department far more than paid for itself from the very start. Over years more benefits were realized as methods of determining the maximum capacity of each of the machines in the place, and of making working-tables of cutting conditions were developed. Also the best methods of making and recording time observations of work done by the men and developing the best way of doing each element was determined. Also time-tables for starting and finishing jobs (schedules) were developed and daily task was given to each workman with the promise of a bonus or additional premium for exceeding the task given to him in a day.

The best results were finally attained in the case of work done by metal-cutting tools, such as lathes, planers, boring mills, etc., when a long and expensive series of experiments was made, to determine, formulate, and finally practically apply to each machine the law governing the proper cutting speed of tools, namely, the effect on the cutting speed of altering any one of the following variables : the shape of the tool (i.e., lip angle, clearance angle, and the line of the cutting edge), the duration of the cut, the quality or hardness of the metal being cut, the depth of the cut, and the thickness of the feed or shaving.

Due to the understanding of metal cutting through these experiments, the quality of the work was improved and the output of the machinery and the men was doubled, and in many cases trebled. At the start there was naturally great opposition to the rate-fixing department, particularly to the man who was taking time observations of the various elements of the work. But  when the men found that  the knowledge of the department was more accurate than their own, and the system provided them higher income permanently, the motive for hanging back or “ soldiering (deliberate slow work)” ceased, and with it the greatest cause for antagonism and war between the men and the management

The accurate knowledge of the quickest time in which work can be done, obtained by the rate-fixing department and accepted by the men as standard, is the greatest and most important step toward obtaining the maximum output of the establishment.

Of the two devices proposed for increasing the output of a shop, the differential rate and the scientific rate-fixing department, the scientific rate-fixing department is by far the more important. The differential rate is invaluable at the start as a means of convincing men that the management is in earnest in its intention of paying a premium for performing properly planned work or engineered work, and it at all times furnishes the best means of maintaining the top notch of production; but when, through its application, the men and the management have come to appreciate the mutual benefit of harmonious cooperation and respect for each other’s rights, it ceases to be an absolute necessity. On the other hand, the rate-fixing department, for an establishment doing a large variety of work, becomes absolutely indispensable. The longer it is in operation the more necessary it becomes.

To apply the knowledge gained through rate fixing deparment's work in various organizations with less cost, what is needed is a hand-book on the speed with which work can be done, similar to the elementary engineering hand-books. And the writer ventures to predict that such a book will, before long, be forthcoming. Such a book should describe the best method of making, recording, tabulating, and indexing time-observations, since much time and effort are wasted by the adoption of inferior methods (Taylor himself created the engineering knowledge to determine cutting speeds, feeds and depth of cut of machine tools).

The benefits of elementary rate-fixing including many indirect results.

The careful study of the capabilities of the machines and the analysis of the speeds at which they must run, before differential rates can be fixed which will insure their maximum output, almost invariably result in first indicating and then correcting the defects in their design and in the method of running and caring for them.

In the case of the Midvale Steel Company the machine shop was equipped with standard tools furnished by the best makers, and the study of these machines, such as lathes, planers, boring mills, etc., which was made in fixing rates, developed the fact that they were none of them designed and speeded so as to cut steel to the best advantage. As a result, this company has demanded alterations from the standard in almost every machine which they have bought during the past eight years. They have themselves been obliged to superintend the design of many special tools which would not have been thought of had it not been for elementary rate-fixing.

But what is perhaps of more importance still, the rate-fixing department has shown the necessity of carefully systematizing all of the small details in the running of each shop, such as the care of belting, the proper shape for cutting tools, and the dressing, grinding, and issuing swarf, oiling machines, issuing orders for work, obtaining accurate labor and material returns, and a host of other minor methods and processes. These details, which are usually regarded as of comparatively small importance, and many of which are left to the individual judgment of the foreman and workmen, are shown by the rate-fixing department to be of paramount importance in obtaining the maximum output, and to require the most careful and systematic study and attention in order to insure uniformity and a fair and equal chance for each workman. Without this preliminary study and systematizing of details it is impossible to apply successfully the differential rate in most establishments.

No system of management, however good, should be applied in a wooden way. The proper personal relations should always be maintained between the employers and men; and even the prejudices of the workmen should be considered in dealing with ]them.

Above all it is desirable that men should be talked to on their own level by those who are over them.

Each man should be encouraged to discuss any trouble which he may have, either in the works or outside, with those over him. Men would far rather even be blamed by their bosses, especially if the “ tearing out ” has a touch of human nature and feeling in it, than to be passed by day after day without a word and with no more notice than if they were part of the machinery.

The opportunity which each man should have of airing his mind freely and having it out with his employers, is a safety-valve ; and if the superintendents are reasonable men, and listen to and treat with respect what their men have to say, there is absolutely no reason for labor unions and strikes.

Source: Frederick Taylor's Piece Rate System


The machine and machine related work improvement was described in very great detail in the paper "The Art of Metal Cutting (1906)" by Taylor.

IE Research by Taylor - Productivity of Machining  - Part 1 - Part 2  - Part 3  - Part 4 - Part 5 

Taylor is the first person who wrote about a system to improve productivity in machine shop. He contributed to productivity science, productivity engineering and productivity management. It is important to study the productivity science developed by Taylor through his paper "The Art of Metal Cutting." Number of tables were shared with participants along with the paper presented in 1906. The folder containing tables is not yet available in the web space. We only have the paper. So, it may be difficult to follow the content. But we need to make an attempt to understand to the extent possible and develop similar content for other processes.

Taylor did research on productivity improvement of machining in turning process for 26 years and provided number of relations between cutting variables and productivity. 

ELEMENTS AFFECTING CUTTING SPEED OF TOOLS IN THE ORDER OF THEIR RELATIVE IMPORTANCE 

The cutting speed of a tool is directly dependent upon the following elements. The order in which the elements are given indicates their relative effect in modifying the cutting speed, and in order to compare them, we have written in each case figures which represent, broadly speaking, the ratio between the lower and higher limits of speed as affected by each element. 

(A) The quality of the metal which is to be cut; i.e., its hardness or other qualities which affect the cutting speed.

Proportion is as 1 in the case of semi-hardened steel or chilled iron to 100 in the case of very soft low carbon steel. 

(B) The chemical composition of the steel from which the V tool is made, and the heat treatment of the tool.

Proportion is as 1 in tools made from tempered carbon steel to 7 in the best high speed tools. 

(C) The thickness of the shaving; or, the thickness of the spiral strip or band of metal which is to be removed by the tool, measured while the metal retains its original density (uncut thickness); not the thickness of the actual shaving, the metal of which has become partly disintegrated.

Proportion is as 1 with thickness of shaving 3/16 of an inch to 3.5 with thickness of shaving 1/64 of an inch.  

(D) The shape or contour of the cutting edge of the tool, chiefly because of the effect which it has upon the thickness of the shaving.

Proportion is as  1 in a thread tool to 6 in a broad nosed cutting tool. , 

(E) Whether a copious stream of water or other cooling medium is used on the tool.

Proportion is as 1 for tool running dry to 1.41 for tool cooled by a copious stream of water. 

(F) The depth of the cut; or, one-half of the amount by which the forging or casting is being reduced in diameter in turning.

Proportion is as 1 with 1/2 inch depth of cut to 1.36 with 1/8 inch depth of cut. 

(G) The duration of the cut; i. c., the time which a tool must last under pressure of the shaving without being reground.

Proportion is as 1 when tool is to be ground every 1.5 hour to 1.207 when tool is to be ground every 20 minutes.

(H) The lip and clearance angles of the tool.

Proportion is as 1 with lip angle of 68 degrees to 1.023 with lip angle of 61 degrees. 

(J) The elasticity of the work and of the tool on account of producing chatter.

Proportion is as 1 with tool chattering to 1.15 with tool running smoothly. 

 A brief recapitulation of these elements is as follows: 
(A) quality of metal to be cut: 1 to 100; 
(B) chemical composition of tool steel: 1 to 7;
 (C) thickness of shaving: 1 to 3.5; 
(D) shape or contour of cutting edge: 1 to 6; 
(E) copious stream of water on the tool: 1 to 1.41; 
(F) depth of cut: 1 with 1/2 inch depth to 1.36 with 1/8 inch depth of cut; 
(G) duration of cut: 1 with 1.5 hour cut to 1.20 with 20-minute cut; 
(H) lip and clearance angles: 1 with lip angle 68 degrees to 1.023 with lip angle of 61 degrees; 
(J) elasticity of the work and of the tool: 1 with tool chattering to 1.15, with tool running smoothly.



A. QUALITY OF METAL BEING CUT
THE EFFECT OF THE QUALITY OF THE METAL BEING CUT UPON CUTTING SPEED


we made great numbers of experiments upon the effect of the quality of the metal being cut upon the cutting speed.

SYSTEMATIC CLASSIFICATION OF STEEL FORGINGS AND CASTINGS ACCORDING TO THEIR CUTTING SPEEDS


It is of great importance to connect this numerical scale of hardness (which varies by the common rate of 1.1) directly and permanently with certain qualities of metal and with cutting tools of definitely known cutting properties. As a basis for accomplishing this we would state that Class No. 13 upon this scale corresponds to a cutting speed of 60 feet per minute, for a standard cut of 20 minutes duration when a high speed inch tool of the chemical composition of tool No. 27 is used, taking a depth of cut of inch and feed of inch.

Our experiments indicate also that Class No. 13 represents a speed of 99 feet (in round numbers 100 feet) for the best high speed tool (Folder 20, Tool No. 1), running under the same conditions as
stated in paragraph.

Using this data as a basis, our scale of "hardness classes" for metals can be connected with other shapes of tools and other qualities of tool steel, other depths of cut, and other thicknesses of feed, by reference to the various tables and formula given throughout this paper.

In using this classification it will be noted that the best modern high speed inch tool, if cutting metal belonging to Class 1 would have a cutting speed of 316 feet per minute with a standard inch depth of cut and inch feed; and such a metal as this would be much softer than any steel which is cut in a machine shop.

For what we call a hard steel forging of about the quality of a hard locomotive tire, a cutting speed of 45 feet corresponds to Class 21 and 1/4, while a soft steel having a cutting speed of 198 feet corresponds to Class 5 and 3/4.



THE EFFECT OF THE QUALITY OR HARDNESS OF STEEL FORGINGS UPON THE CUTTING SPEED

There are three important elements which affect the hardness or the cutting properties of steel forgings:

a Their chemical composition.
b The thoroughness with which the metal is forged, that is, the amount that the cross-section of the ingot has been reduced in making the forging and the forging heat.
c The subsequent heat treatment which the forging receives, that is, whether it has been laid down to cool in the air, annealed, or oil hardened, and the exact temperatures of annealing and the rapidity of cooling.

It may be said, however, that for steel containing 0.40 per cent of carbon or less, the percentage of carbon is a fairly reliable guide to the hardness or cutting speed.

The physical properties of steel constitute a fairly accurate guide to its cutting speed; and these properties are best indicated by the tensile strength and percentage of stretch and contraction of area obtained from standard tensile test bars cut from such a position in the body of the forging as to represent its average quality and then broken in a testing machine.

A study of this table, however, will show that in general the cutting speeds grow slower as the percentage of carbon in the steel to be cut grows greater. In general, also, it will be noted that the cutting speed becomes slower as the tensile strength of the metal becomes higher, and that the cutting speed grows faster as the percentage of stretch increases.

He explained the shop management in a large paper.

Shop Management


The art of management has been defined, "as knowing exactly what you want men to do, and then seeing that they do it in the best and cheapest way.'" No concise definition can fully describe an art, but the relations between employers and men form without question the most important part of this art.

It is safe to say that no system or scheme of management should be considered which does not in the long run give satisfaction to both employer and employee, which does not make it apparent that their best interests are mutual, and which does not bring about such thorough and hearty cooperation that they can pull together instead of apart.

What the workmen want from their employers beyond anything else is high wages, and what employers want from their workmen most of all is a low labor cost of manufacture.

These two conditions are not diametrically opposed to one another as would appear at first glance. On the contrary, they can be made to go together in all classes of work, without exception, and in the writer's judgment the existence or absence of these two elements forms the best index to either good or bad management.

The possibility of coupling high wages with a low labor cost rests mainly upon the enormous difference between the amount of work which a first-class man can do under favorable circumstances and the work which is actually done by the average man.

Both installing and maintaining favorable circumstances and identifying and developing first class men are the responsibility of managers only. No doubt each individual employee is an important contributor to the production process and his enthusiasm every day is required and has to be promoted by the society as well as the organization managers, his initial selection and education/training and development for higher responsibilities are all duties of managers.

Industrial Engineering Described in Shop Management by F.W. Taylor

https://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2019/06/industrial-engineering-described-in.html

Taylor developed his shop management and productivity improvement theories initially in machine shops and later extended to other industrial activities. In production systems where machine is the important working component,  the large increase in output is due partly to the actual physical changes, either in the machines or small tools and appliances.

Task Management - F.W. Taylor http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2013/08/task-management-fw-taylor.html

Modern engineering can almost be called an exact science; each year removes it further from guess work and from rule-of-thumb methods and establishes it more firmly upon the foundation of fixed principles. Productivity improvement engineering will also become exact science.

In the case of a machine shop doing miscellaneous work, before each casting or forging arrives in the shop the exact route which it is to take from machine to machine should be laid out. An instruction card for each operation must be written out stating in detail just how each operation on every piece of work is to be done and the time required to do it, the drawing number, any special tools, jigs, or appliances required, etc. Before the four principles of productivity improvement through task allotment and management  can be successfully applied it is also necessary in most shops to make important physical changes It is the first principle actually. The work of the machine has to be standardized, meaning it has to be planned for maximum productivity.  All of the small details in the shop, which are usually regarded as of little importance  must be thoroughly and carefully standardized; such. details, for instance, as the care and tightening of the belts; the exact shape and quality of each cutting tool; the establishment of a complete tool room from which properly ground tools, as well as jigs, templates, drawings, etc., are issued under a good check system, etc.; and as a matter of importance (in fact, as the foundation of scientific management) an accurate study of unit times required for each machine tool operation must be made by one or more men connected with the planning department, and each machine tool must be standardized and a table or slide rule constructed for it showing how to run it to the best advantage.

Importance of Task Organization - F.W. Taylor - F.W. Taylor http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2013/08/importance-of-people-organization-fw.html


Modern engineering proceeds with comparative certainty to the design and construction of a machine or structure of the maximum efficiency with the minimum weight and cost of materials, while the old style engineering at best only approximated these results and then only after a series of breakdowns, involving the practical reconstruction of the machine and the lapse of a long period of time.  Industrial engineering has to provide completion times for various machine tasks as well as manual tasks like design of machine elements.

Modern Engineering and Modern Shop Management - F.W. Taylor 
http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2013/08/modern-engineering-and-modern-shop.html

The conditions standardization principle of task management (standardized conditions of "machine") is a necessary preliminary, since without having first thoroughly standardized all of the conditions surrounding work, for productivity management under task management or differential piece rate systems.
Task Work - Some More Thoughts - F.W. Taylor  http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2013/08/task-work-some-more-thoughts-fw-taylor.html

Machine Tool Time Estimation Methods
Methods employed in solving the time problem for machine tools.

As a machine shop has been chosen to illustrate the application of such details of scientific management as time study, the planning department, functional foremanship, instruction cards, etc., the description of the methods employed in solving the time problem for machine tools has to be included at least briefly.


Methods employed in solving the time problem for machine tools

This issue was already explained in art of metal cutting above.


Time Study - 1903 Explanation by F.W. Taylor - Process Time Reduction Study

The time study should be minute and exact. Each job should be carefully subdivided into its elementary operations, and each of these unit times should receive the most thorough time study.

The art of studying unit times is quite as important and as difficult as that of the draftsman. It should be undertaken seriously, and looked upon as a profession. It has its own peculiar implements and methods, without the use and understanding of which progress will necessarily be slow, and in the absence of which there will be more failures than successes scored at first.

Mr. Thompson has developed what are in many respects the best implements in use, and with his permission some of them will be described. The blank form or note sheet used by Mr. Thompson, contains essentially:

(1) Space for the description of the work and notes in regard to it.

(2) A place for recording the total time of complete operations--that is, the gross time including all necessary delays, for doing a whole job or large portions of it.

(3) Lines for setting down the "detail operations, or units" into which any piece of work may be divided, followed by columns for entering the averages obtained from the observations.

(4) Squares for recording the readings of the stop watch when observing the times of these elements. If these squares are filled, additional records can be entered on the back. The size of the sheets, which should be of best quality ledger paper, is 8 3/4 inches wide by 7 inches long, and by folding in the center they can be conveniently carried in the pocket, or placed in a case (see Fig. 3, page 153) containing one or more stop watches.

This case, or "watch book," is another device of Mr. Thompson's. It consists of a frame work, containing concealed in it one, two, or three watches, whose stop and start movements can be operated by pressing with the fingers of the left hand upon the proper portion of the cover of the note-book without the knowledge of the workman who is being observed. The frame is bound in a leather case resembling a pocket note-book, and has a place for the note sheets described.

To obtain accurate average times, for any item of work under specified conditions, it is necessary to take observations upon a number of men, each of whom is at work under conditions which are comparable. The total number of observations which should be taken of any one elementary unit depends upon its variableness, and also upon its frequency of occurrence in a day's work.

In making time observations, absolutely nothing should be left to the memory of the time study man. Every item, even those which appear self-evident, should be accurately recorded.

It is a good plan to pay a first-class man an extra price while his work is being timed. When work men once understand that the time study is being made to enable them to earn higher wages, the writer has found them quite ready to help instead of hindering him in his work. The division of a given job into its proper elementary units, before beginning the time study, calls for considerable skill and good judgment. If the job to be observed is one which will be repeated over and over again, or if it is one of a series of similar jobs which form an important part of the standard work of an establishment, or of the trade which is being studied, then it is best to divide the job into elements which are rudimentary. In some cases this subdivision should be carried to a point which seems at first glance almost absurd.


http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2013/08/time-study-by-fw-taylor.html

The first move before in any way stimulating them toward a larger output was to insure against a falling off in quality.
Bicylcle Ball Inspection Case Study - F.W. Taylor - As Described in Shop Management 
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Time study for all operations done by the various machines.

This information is best obtained from slide rules, one of which is made for each machine tool or class of machine tools throughout the works; one, for instance, for small lathes of the same type, one for planers of same type, etc. These slide rules show the best way to machine each piece and enable detailed directions to be given the workman as to how many cuts to take, where to start each cut, both for roughing out work and finishing it, the depth of the cut, the best feed and speed, and the exact time required to do each operation.

Production Planning and Control - F.W.Taylor - http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2013/08/production-planning-and-control-fwtaylor.html

In the metal working plant which we are using for purposes of illustration a start for productivity improvement can be made at once along all of the following lines:

First. The introduction of standards throughout the works and office.

Second. The scientific study of unit times on several different kinds of work.

Third. A complete analysis of the pulling, feeding power and the proper speeding of the various machine tools throughout the place with a view of making a slide rule for properly running each machine.

Fourth. The work of establishing the system of time cards by means of which ultimately all of the desired information will be conveyed from the men to the planning room.


To illustrate: For nearly two and one-half years in the large shop of the Bethlehem Steel Company, one speed boss after another was instructed in the art of cutting metals fast on a large motor-driven lathe which was especially fitted to run at any desired speed within a very wide range. The work done in this machine was entirely connected, either with the study of cutting tools or the instruction of speed bosses. It was most interesting to see these men, principally either former gang bosses or the best workmen, gradually change from their attitude of determined and positive opposition to that in most cases of enthusiasm for, and earnest support of, the new methods. It was actually running the lathe themselves according to the new method and under the most positive and definite orders that produced the effect. The writer himself ran the lathe and instructed the first few bosses. It required from three weeks to two months for each man.

Train Foremen and Operators in High Productivity  - F.W. Taylors  
http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2013/08/train-operators-in-high-productivity.html

The first of the functional foremen to be brought into actual contact with the men should be the inspector; and the whole system of inspection, with its proper safeguards, should be in smooth and successful operation before any steps are taken toward stimulating the men to a larger output; otherwise an increase in quantity will probably be accompanied by a falling off in quality.

The inspector is responsible for the quality of the work, and both the workmen and speed bosses must see that the work is all finished to suit him. This man can, of course, do his work best if he is a master of the art of finishing work both well and quickly.

Next choose for the application of the two principal functional foremen, viz., the speed boss and the gang boss, that portion of the work in which there is the largest need of, and opportunity for, making a gain.

The gang boss has charge of the preparation of all work up to the time that the piece is set in the machine. It is his duty to see that every man under him has at all times at least one piece of work ahead at his machine, with all the jigs, templates, drawings, driving mechanism, sling chains, etc., ready to go into his machine as soon as the piece he is actually working on is done. The gang boss must show his men how to set their work in their machines in the quickest time, and see that they do it. He is responsible for the work being accurately and quickly set, and should be not only able but willing to pitch in himself and show the men how to set the work in record time.

The speed boss must see that the proper cutting tools are used for each piece of work, that the work is properly driven, that the cuts are started in the right part of the piece, and that the best speeds and feeds and depth of cut are used. His work begins only after the piece is in the lathe or planer, and ends when the actual machining ends. The speed boss must not only advise his men how best to do this work, but he must see that they do it in the quickest time, and that they use the speeds and feeds and depth of cut as directed on the instruction card. In many cases he is called upon to demonstrate that the work can be done in the specified time by doing it himself in the presence of his men.

It is of the utmost importance that the first combined application of time study, slide rules, instruction cards, functional foremanship, and a premium for a large daily task should prove a success both for the workmen and for the company, and for this reason a simple class of work should be chosen for a start. The entire efforts of the new management should be centered on one point, and continue there until unqualified success has been attained.

Introducing Functional Foremanship - F.W. Taylor http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2013/08/introducing-functional-foremanship-fw.html

If, however, the management begins by analyzing in detail just how each section of the work should be done and then writes out complete instructions specifying the tools to be used in succession, the
cone step on which the driving belt is to run, the depth of cut and the feed to be used, the exact manner in which the work is to be set in the machine, etc., and if before starting to make any change they have trained in as functional foremen several men who are particularly expert and well informed in their specialties, as, for instance, a speed boss, gang boss, and inspector; if you then place for example a speed boss alongside of that workman, with an instruction card clearly written out, stating what both the speed boss and the man whom he is instructing are to do, and that card says you are to use such and such a tool, put your driving belt on this cone, and use this feed on your machine, and if you do so you will get out the work in such and such a time, I can hardly conceive of a case in which a union could prevent the boss from ordering the man to put his driving belt just where he said and using just the feed that he said, and in doing that the workman can hardly fail to get the work out on time. No union would dare to say to the management of a works, you shall not run the machine with the belt on this or that cone step. They do not come down specifically in that way; they say, "You shall not work so fast," but they do not say, "You shall not use such and such a tool, or run with such a feed or at such a speed." 

However much they might like to do it, they do not dare to interfere specifically in this way. Now, when your single man under the supervision of a speed boss, gang boss, etc., runs day after day at the given speed and feed, and gets work out in the time that the instruction card calls for, and when a premium is kept for him in the office for having done the work in the required time, you begin to have a moral suasion on that workman which is very powerful. At first he won't take the premium if it is contrary to the laws of his union, but as time goes on and it piles up and amounts to a big item, he will be apt to step into the office and ask for his premium, and before long your man will be a thorough convert to the new system. Now, after one man has been persuaded, by means of the four functional foremen, etc., that he will earn more money under the new system than under the laws of the union, you can then take the next man, and so convert one after another right through your shop, and as time goes on public opinion will swing around more and more rapidly your way.

Personal Relations Between Employers and Employed - F.W. Taylor 
http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2013/08/personal-relations-between-employers.html

The remarkable system for analyzing all of the work upon new machines as the drawings arrived from the drafting-room and of directing the movement and grouping of the various parts as they progressed through the shop, which was developed and used for several years by Mr. Wm. II. Thorne, of Wm. Sellers & Co., of Philadelphia, while the company was under the general management of Mr. J. Sellers Bancroft. Unfortunately the full benefit of this method was never realized owing to the lack of the other functional elements which should have accompanied it.

Best Practices in Shop Management - 1911 - F.W. Taylor  http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2013/08/best-practices-in-shop-management-1911.html

Scientific Management


Taylor authored "Scientific Management" in 1911 and it was focused totally on the study and improvement of human effort as in this paper, Taylor specifically highlighted waste of human effort and ways to prevent it.

Importance of System for Efficiency - F.W. Taylor


President Roosevelt in his address to the Governors at the White House, prophetically remarked that "The conservation of our national resources is only preliminary to the larger question of national efficiency."

The whole country at once recognized the importance of conserving our material resources and a large movement has been started which will be effective in accomplishing this object. 

We can see our forests vanishing, our water-powers going to waste, our soil being carried by floods into the sea; and the end of our coal and our iron is in sight. But our larger wastes of human effort, which go on every day through such of our acts as are blundering, ill-directed, or inefficient, are less visible, less tangible, and are but vaguely appreciated.

We can see and feel the waste of material things. Awkward, inefficient, or ill-directed movements of men, however, leave nothing visible or tangible behind them. And for this reason, even though our daily loss from this source is greater than from our waste of material things, the one has stirred us deeply, while the other has moved us but little.

It is only when we fully realize that our duty, as well as our opportunity, lies in systematically cooperating to train and to make this competent man, to be on the road to "true" national efficiency.

The first object of any good management system must be that of developing first-class men; and under systematic management the best man rises to the top more certainly and more rapidly than ever before.

The paper "Scientific Management"  has been written:

First. To point out, through a series of simple illustrations, the great loss which the whole country is suffering through inefficiency in almost all of our daily acts.

Second. To try to convince the reader that the remedy for this inefficiency lies in systematic management, rather than in searching for some unusual or extraordinary man.

Third. To prove that the best management is a true science, resting upon clearly defined laws, rules, and principles, as a foundation. And further to show that the fundamental principles of scientific management are applicable to all kinds of human activities, from our simplest individual acts to the work of our great corporations, which call for the most elaborate cooperation. And, briefly, through a series of illustrations, to convince the reader that whenever these principles are correctly applied, results must follow which are truly astounding.

This paper was originally prepared for presentation to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The illustrations chosen are such as, it is believed, will especially appeal to engineers and to managers of industrial and manufacturing establishments, and also quite as much to all of the men who are working in these establishments. It is hoped, however, that it will be clear to other readers that the same principles can be applied with equal force to all social activities: to the management of our homes; the management of our farms; the management of the business of our tradesmen, large and small; of our churches, our philanthropic institutions our universities, and our governmental departments.

Full Content of Taylor on the Issue 

The system developed, implemented and advocated by Taylor is based on four principles of scientific management.

The Principles of Scientific Management


Under scientific management  managers assume new burdens, new duties, and responsibilities never dreamed of in the past. The managers assume, the burden of study and recording of work by workmen and then of classifying, tabulating, and reducing this knowledge to rules, laws, and formulae which are immensely helpful to the workmen in doing their daily work. In addition to developing a science in this way, the management takes on three other types of duties which involve new and heavy burdens for themselves.

These new duties are grouped under four heads:

First. They develop a science for each element of a man's work, which replaces the old rule-of.-thumb method.

Second. They scientifically select and then train, teach, and develop the workman, whereas in the past he chose his own work and trained himself as best he could.

Third. They heartily cooperate with the men so as to insure all of the work being done in accordance with the principles of the science which has been developed.

Fourth. There is an almost equal division of the work and the responsibility between the management and the workmen. The management take over all work for which they are better fitted than the workmen, while in the past almost all of the work and the greater part of the responsibility were thrown upon the men.

Under scientific management the "initiative" of the workmen (that is, their hard work, their good-will, and their ingenuity) is obtained with absolute uniformity and to a greater extent than is possible under the old system.

It is this combination of the initiative of the workmen, coupled with the new types of work done by the management, that makes scientific management so much more efficient than the old plan.


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More detailed description of Taylor's contribution

Taylor's Industrial Engineering


More Details on Individual Topics

Industrial Engineering Described in Shop Management by F.W. Taylor

Time Study - Explanation by F.W. Taylor

Industrial Engineering and Productivity Improvement Described in Scientific Management by F.W. Taylor

Foundation of Scientific Management

Productivity Improvement in Machine Shops through Scientific Machine Work and Man Work by Taylor

Illustration of Human Effort Productivity Improvement - Pig Iron Handling by Taylor

F.W. Taylor - Shop Management - With Appropriate Sections

F.W. Taylor Scientific Management - With Appropriate Sections



Contribution of F.W. Gilbreth


Frank B. Gilbreth, the construction engineer and contractor,  who conceived the "Motion Study" Principles (techniques for manual productivity improvement) once visited a British-Japanese Exposition. There a demonstration of polishing shoes was being held to help the sales of Japanese shoe polish.

Casually walking and talking with his friend, Gilbreth stopped to view the shoe polish wrapping demonstration. Gilbreth watched for a few moments, then simply said, "They are really skilled, but they could produce more." He timed the fastest girl and without hesitation, ascended the platform. He found she was being paid on a piecework basis and said, "I’m going to tell you how to earn more money, but you must follow my instructions." He changed the location of her supplies and showed her how to wrap and set aside more efficiently. He timed her again after several cycles. When he rejoined his friend he said, "When she gets the hang of it she’ll be making twice her former earnings."

That is an example of the applied results of using Gilbreth’s Motion Study Principles. Industrial Engineers used these guiding rules throughout the United States. Gilbreth said if his Motion Study Principles had not been previously applied to any manual work, by their application the productivity would be doubled or more.

In the late 1940’s, James S. Perkins, an Industrial Engineer, on a research assignment for the Western Electric Company, was at the University of Iowa, where he met Mrs. Gilbreth, who was a speaker at the Industrial Engineering Conference there. She visited with him and reviewed his research. Gilbreth’s film studies, research and conclusions, preserved by James Perkins extend into many diverse areas:

•Motion and Fatigue Study
•Skill Study
•Plant Layout and Material Handling
•Inventory Control
•Production Control
•Business Procedures
•Safety Methods
•Developing Occupations for the Handicapped
•Athletic Training and Skills
•Military Training
•Surgical Operations

Gilbreth developed the route model technique to improve the flow of materials (material transport operation) in manufacturing operations. When he first developed it, Gilbreth said that several of his engineering friends, at an engineering meeting, laughed themselves to death, but that it was quickly accepted by Plant Managers. He found that by its use, the layout distance was often cut by 75% and product processing time was reduced substantially. Further, plant productivity was usually increased by 15 to 25%. Gilbreth is much more known for his work human effort improvement and his wife, a psychologist also took interest in scientific management and produced research on it. Dr. Lilian Gilbreth also became a professor of industrial engineering.

Gilbreth’s cyclegraph technique, to learn about skill, was one of his significant contributions. He demonstrates this technique in the film and also shows the three-dimensional model he made from the pictures of a drilling operation. He said, "The expert uses the motion model for learning the existing motion path and the possible lines for improvement. An efficient and skillful motion has smoothness, grace, strong marks of habit, decision, lack of hesitation and is not fatiguing."

Gilbreth's motion study was described by Taylor in his book "Scientific Management."

"Time and Motion Study" or "Motion and Time Study" based on the motion study theory of Gilbreth became a prominent subject of industrial engineering. Therefore, human effort engineering has significant presence in industrial engineering. Machine work study is a neglected area in industrial engineering.  Product industrial engineering and process industrial engineering have to be developed in industrial engineering curriculum to adequate levels. Practice of product industrial engineering and process industrial engineering will give more opportunities and more consistent and reliable output from industrial engineers (Narayana Rao K.V.S.S.).

An example of benefits from product industrial engineering and process industrial engineering
3 Years - 50% Cost Reduction - Diplexer Line
https://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2020/05/ie-continuous-improvement-3-years-50.html

Illustration of Human Effort Productivity Improvement - Bricklaying Improvement by Gilbreth


Contribution of Harrington Emerson



Harrington Emerson contributed to the systems efficiency focus of industrial engineering. His book Twelve Principles of Efficiency was classic.

He discussed efficiency design of organization through 12 principles

1. Clearly defined ideals.
2. Common sense
3. Competent counsel
4. Discipline
5. The fair deal
6. Reliable, immediate and adequate records
7. Despatching
8. Standards and schedules
9. Standardized conditions
10. Standardized operations
11. Written standard-practice instructions
12. Efficiency-reward


Standards and standardization as a basis for efficiency was strongly advocated by him. Nearly two hundred companies adopted various features of the Emerson Efficiency system, which included production routing procedures, standardized working conditions and tasks, time and motion studies, and a bonus plan which raised workers' wages in accordance with greater efficiency and productivity [Guide].

Managerial aspects of efficiency improvement has to be learned from the reading of Emerson's book.


Industrial Engineering Knowledge Revision Plan - One Year Plan


January - February - March - April - May - June





Industrial Engineering ONLINE Course

Online Handbook of Industrial Engineering



New. Published on 4 June 2025

Evolution of Industrial Engineering and Productivity Management - Part 2 - Contribution of Barnes, Maynard and Mogensen

Evolution of Industrial Engineering and Productivity Management - Part 3 - Contribution of Ueno, Ohno and Shingo




Updated  4 June 2025, 4 June 2021, 28 July 2020,  21 May 2020,  4 July 2019,  31 May 2019,   2 June 2016, 16 Dec 2011










October 12, 2024

Industrial Engineering and Scientific Management in Japan

Japanese scholars and business men embraced scientific management, efficiency movement, and industrial engineering right from the inception and excelled in implementing it and reaped great rewards in economic as well as academic spheres. In the process there were many innovations in the subject on the Japanese soil.

Early Adoption of Scientific Management by Japan


Late nineteenth century Japan was a rational shopper for products, technology and organizational models[1]. Scientific management of F.W. Taylor was quickly spotted by Japanese and was translated into Japanese in 1912, within one year of its publication in USA in 1911 [1]. It is an astonishing fact that one million copies were sold to workers in a special edition for workers. Yoichi Ueno and Araki Toichiro were enthusiastic supporters. Yoichi Ueno was responsible for organizing the Industrial Efficiency Research Institute (Sngyo Noritsu Kenkyujo) in 1921.

Motion analysis techniques were used in Japanese companies in starting in 1913. Firms like Mitsubishi Electric and Nippon Electric took the lead. In the area of textiles, Kannebo and Toyobo took the initiative.

Industrial engineering was organized as a subject that increases the education and skills of workmen in Japan. Improving the education and skill of a workman is a dominant concept in Japanese industrial set up compared to the slogan of deskilling in US systems. Also, the Efficiency Research Institute was an initiative of Harmony and Cooperation Society (Kyochokai) formed in 1919 by the state and leading corporations of Japan. Industrial engineering has a more welcome environment in Japan to deliver its scientific potential.

Zenjiro Imaoka [3]  explained Industrial Engineering as a concept for improving the efficiency of production and is the driving force that brings success in mass production today. OR (Operations Research) is an approach to explore optimization using statistical figures and linear programming. Both of them are included in supply chain flow [2].  IE (industrial engineering) is a concept that was first structured as a concept to enable the improvement of production efficiency. Various scientific approaches started by Taylor were tried out to improve production efficiency by various companies. During the Civil War, the U.S. promoted the standardization of firearms and parts of munitions. As a result, the U.S. succeeded in the mass production of parts by realizing low-cost and short-lead time production. The engine of the further success of mass production was the concept of IE. IE was employed by Henry Ford for producing the Model T Ford and that was a starting point of growth for auto industry.  The base of business administration and management consulting methodology of today started with IE. We can also say that IE is a technology that combines manufacturing techniques and product technologies or it synchronizes management resources. If IT (information technology) can be used together with IE (manufacturing technologies), information and communication will be combined with production systems, leading to the efficient flow in supply chain management which resulted in supply chain innovations such as CALS, BPR, ECR, and QR.


Contribution of JMA in Promoting and Using IE and Scientific Management in Japan

Scientific Management began in 1880s and spread quickly around the world. In Japan, this concept evolved into the pursuit of efficiency, and in 1942 the Japan Management Association (JMA) was established as an organization to promote that concept, based on IE and other management methods.

JMA set three basic principles to govern all its activities.

1. Japan-oriented strategy toward efficiency.
2. Execution than vacuous theory
3. Priority basis than all-round policy



Contribution of Taichi Ohno and Shigeo Shingo

An interesting point is that Taichi Ohno did not accept the present method as the best method. He advocated that it can be improved today or tomorrow. It is only a present standard operating procedure subject to improvement today or tomorrow. He wanted every body to believe in progress and improvement of methods.



Total Productive Maintenance - Japan Management Association ( Zero Breakdowns for Elimination of  delays in material flow)













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References

1. Oxford handbook of work and organization, OUP 2005
2. http://www.lean-manufacturing-japan.com/scm-terminology/ieor-industrial-engineering-operational-research.html
3. Zenjiro Imaoka, Understand Supply Chain Management through 100 words,
KOUGYOUCHOUSAKAI


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Bibliography

Manufacturing Ideology: Scientific Management in Twentieth-Century Japan
By William M. Tsutsui, Princeton University Press, 2001
http://books.google.com/books/p/princeton?id=Np9Y0x-b37sC


Manufacturing Ideology: Scientific Management in Twentieth-Century Japan - A Review
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3024/is_2_11/ai_n28809136/

___________________________________________________________________
Related Articles

Industrial Engineering

Industrial Engineering - Articles of Narayana Rao K V S S

Total Industrial Engineering - H. Yamashina

Reviewed 3.3.2011

Originally posted on
http://knol.google.com/k/industrial-engineering-and-scientific-management-in-japan



Industrial Engineering Knowledge Revision Plan - One Year Plan


January - February - March - April - May - June






Ud. 13.10.2024
Pub. 15.12.2011

May 31, 2022

Industrial Engineering - Introduction




Lesson 4. Pioneering Efforts of Taylor, Gilbreth and Emerson

Industrial Engineering in Toyota Motors – Production System (TPS)


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Industrial Engineering - Introduction


There is a difference between industrial engineering and engineering management. Now both these programs are run by IE departments only in USA. IE is better described as engineering in response to industry data, economic theories, social science theories, and management requirements etc. Engineering has to be core of industrial engineering. It is done in response to industry generated data. Basic engineering is driven by scientific and technical development. Industrial engineering is response to industry data that is generated in using basic engineering output.  Cost data and human factor related data are two important data which find a significant role in industrial engineering. Work measurement and productivity measurement were developed within industrial engineering as useful measurements in industrial engineering design. Industrial engineering is very valuable. That is what Taiichi Ohno and Shigeo Shingo proved in Toyota after a period of IE successes in USA. Japanese practitioners of IE made significant contributions to industrial engineering.

Innovation is the daily activity of industrial engineers. They have to come out with redesigns and convince their colleagues as well as top managers to use them.  Ideas are to be identified or created  and their economic value has to be demonstrated. Solutions are to be implemented and customer satisfaction has to be ensured.

Industrial Engineering - Definitions



Industrial engineering directs the efficient conduct of manufacturing, construction, transportation, or even commercial enterprises of any undertaking, indeed in which human labor is directed to accomplishing any kind of work . Industrial engineering has drawn upon mechanical engineering, upon economics, sociology, psychology, philosophy, accountancy, to fuse from these older sciences a distinct body of science of its own . It is the inclusion of the economic and the human elements especially that differentiates industrial engineering from the older established branches of the profession (Going, 1911) [1].


“Industrial engineering is the engineering approach applied to all factors, including the human factor, involved in the production and distribution of products or services.” (Maynard, 1953) [2]


“Industrial engineering is the design of situations for the useful coordination of men, materials and machines in order to achieve desired results in an optimum manner. The unique characteristics of Industrial Engineering center about the consideration of the human factor as it is related to the technical aspects of a situation, and the integration of all factors that influence the overall situation.” (Lehrer, 1954) [3]

“Industrial engineering is concerned with the design, improvement, and installation of integrated systems of men, materials, and equipment. It draws upon specialized knowledge and skill in the mathematical, physical, and social sciences together with the principles and methods of engineering analysis and design, to specify, predict, and evaluate the results to be obtained from such systems.” (AIIE, 1955). [4]


"Industrial engineering may be defined as the art of utilizing scientific principles, psychological data, and physiological information for designing, improving, and integrating industrial, management, and human operating procedures." (Nadler, 1955) [5]


“Industrial engineering is that branch of engineering knowledge and practice which

1. Analyzes, measures, and improves the method of performing the tasks assigned to individuals,

2. Designs and installs better systems of integrating tasks assigned to a group,

3. Specifies, predicts, and evaluates the results obtained.

It does so by applying to materials, equipment and work specialized knowledge and skill in the mathematical and physical sciences and the principles and methods of engineering analysis and design. Since, however, work has to be carried out by people; engineering knowledge needs to be supplemented by knowledge derived from the biological and social sciences.” (Lyndall Urwick, 1963) [6]


"Industrial engineering is concerned with the design, improvement and installation of integrated systems of people, materials, information, equipment and energy. It draws upon specialized knowledge and skill in the mathematical, physical, and social sciences together with the principles and methods of engineering analysis and design, to specify, predict, and evaluate the results to be obtained from such systems." [7]

"Industrial engineering is an art for creating the most efficient system composed of people, matters, energy, and information, by which a specific goal in industrial, economic, or social activities will be achieved within predetermined probabilities and accuracy. The system may be for a small single work station, a group, a section, a department, an institution or for a whole business enterprise. It may be also be of a regional, national, international, or inter-planetary scope."(Sawada, 1977) [8]

“Industrial Engineering is Human Effort Engineering. It is an engineering discipline that deals with the design of human effort in all occupations: agricultural, manufacturing and service. The objectives of Industrial Engineering are optimization of productivity of work-systems and occupational comfort, health, safety and income of persons involved.” (Narayana Rao, 2006) [9]


"Industrial Engineering is Human Effort Engineering and System Efficiency Engineering. It is an engineering discipline that deals with the design of human effort and system efficiency in all occupations: agricultural, manufacturing and service. The objectives of Industrial Engineering are optimization of productivity of work-systems and occupational comfort, health, safety and income of persons involved."(Narayana Rao, 2009) [10]

Total Industrial Engineering is "a system of methods where the performance of labor is maximized by reducing Muri (unnatural operation), Mura (irregular operation) and Muda (non-value added operation), and then separating labor from machinery through the use of sensor techniques." (Yamashina)

( Source: http://wenku.baidu.com/view/a1cdf8ec4afe04a1b071de84.html)

"Industrial Engineering is Human Effort Engineering and System Efficiency Engineering. It is an engineering-based management staff-service discipline that deals with the design of human effort and system efficiency in all occupations: agricultural, manufacturing and service. The objectives of Industrial Engineering are optimization of productivity of work-systems and occupational comfort, health, safety and income of persons involved."(Narayana Rao, 2011) [Added to this knol (blog post) on 14.9.2011]

References

1. Going, Charles Buxton, Principles of Industrial Engineering, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 1911, Pages 1,2,3

2. Maynard, H.B., “Industrial Engineering”, Encyclopedia Americana, Americana Corporation, Vol. 15, 1953

3. Lehrer, Robert N., “The Nature of Industrial Engineering,” The Journal of Industrial Engineering, vol.5, No.1, January 1954, Page 4

4. Maynard, H.B., Handbook of Industrial Engineering, 2nd Edition, McGraw Hill, New York, 1963.

5. Nadler, Gerald, Motion and Time Study", McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York, 1955

6. Urwick, Lyndall, F., “Development of Industrial Engineering”, Chapter 1 in Handbook of Industrial Engineering, H.B. Maynard (Ed.), 2nd Edition, McGraw Hill, New York, 1963.

7. http://www.iienet2.org/Details.aspx?id=282

8. Sawada, P.N., "A Concept of Industrial Engineering," International Journal of Production Research, Vol 15, No. 6, 1977, Pp. 511-22.
9. Narayana Rao, K.V.S.S., “Definition of Industrial Engineering: Suggested Modification.” Udyog Pragati, October-December 2006, Pp. 1-4.
10. Narayana Rao K.V.S.S., Industrial Engineering


Industrial Engineering and Supporting Science


Industrial engineering is based on science. It is based scientific theories developed by examining the work of machines and men in practical applications in delivering outputs using engineering processes.

Productivity Science - Principle of Industrial Engineering

Develop a science for each element of a man - machine system's work related to efficiency and productivity.

The productivity science developed is the foundation for industrial engineering in productivity engineering and productivity management phases.

Industrial Engineering is a Management Function



Industrial engineering (IE) discipline emerged out of the involvement of engineers in management of engineering departments. It is management function. Henry Towne in a 1886 paper, presented in ASME called for learning of economics, management, cost accounting and cost reduction by engineers. Frederick Taylor identified the short coming in the shop management that engineers really do not understand how operators are using machines or hand tools. It is not proper management of manufacturing activity. Taylor came with the theory that managers have to know how work is to be done by operators and must have the capability to train them. Managers have to specify standard operating procedures. Taylor used time study as the tool to identify the best practices or methods being used by operators (mechanic arts) at that point in time and based on them developed standard operating procedures for human effort that improved productivity. Along with it, Taylor developed theory of various machine work methods, conducted experiments and came out with improvements in machine work and thus increased man-machine system productivity. Gilbreth came with a different approach of developing micro motions used by operators to carry any activity. He developed optimal methods by removing certain non-value adding micro motions and specifying more optimal micro motions. Harrington Emerson, developed principles of efficiency for manufacturing organizations.

Within the management functions its present focus of industrial engineering is on the improvement of efficiency of products, processes and systems and  design of work done by operators.  

In certain companies, IE department was made a part of management services department which was appropriate. Management accounting, Management controls, Management audit, Industrial engineering and some more such similar functions can be organized under management services departments. Such a departmentation clearly recognizes that these sections or functions are functions of management assisting management in planning, organizing and directing resources. Productivity services department was also in existence in some companies. In the recent days, there was trend to start operational excellence departments and industrial engineers are being employed in them.

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Explanation for the Words "Industrial" and "Engineering" in Industrial Engineering


Difference between Pure Engineering and  Industrial Engineering

Pure Engineering creates  technical products and processes that produce them, inspect them, operate them and service them.

Industrial Engineering is engaged in evaluation and further improvement of the technical products and processes created by the pure engineers so that at the price offered by the customers to buy a specified quantity of production, profit is made by the firm through resource use minimization and through further iterations over the life cycle of the product,  profit is further increased.

That is why Taiichi Ohno termed it Profit engineering

Target costing developed in Japan best explains the role of industrial engineering in new product introduction.

IE techniques are primarily used for improving technical processes and managerial processes of technical processes (planning, organizing, resourcing, executing and controlling of technical tasks and processes) for increasing productivity. All IE pioneers worked in engineering concerns. They improved technical processes as well as managerial methods and processes used to manage technical processes.

F.W. Taylor improved metal cutting processes, machines, and management of machine shop. He recommended functional management scheme for the machine shop.

Gilbreth improved bricklaying process by making changes in techniques. Then he proceeded to make fatigue studies to decide the speed at which workers can function without fatigue and also time.

As an augmented activity, IE is applied to business processes and managerial activities related to business processes. With the development of information technology, industrial engineers with focus on information technology have made significant contribution to business process improvement.

The emphasis on engineering tasks is the engineering component of industrial engineering. Emphasis on making products profitable is the explanation for the term "industrial". Technical products are made commercial products or industrial products by IEs by reducing their costs below the prices quoted by potential consumers and still further reducing the costs by eliminating wastes so that profit is maximized through increase in sales (due to lower prices) as well as reduction in unit costs.

The basis for reduction of costs is better explained by value engineering. A potential customer quotes a price for a new product by the services it provides to him and by comparison to the prices that he is paying for current equipment that he is using. So for reducing the costs of a proposed product to bring it in line with customer's quote, industrial engineers have to study the architecture of the current products being used by potential customers. They need to get ideas for redesigning the proposed product by understanding how the required functions are being provided by the existing products being currently used.  In investigating the product, the processes being used for producing them also come into investigation.

Productivity Engineering - Principle of Industrial Engineering

Industrial engineering is concerned with redesign of engineering systems with a view to improve their productivity. Industrial engineers analyze productivity of each  resource used in engineering systems and redesign as necessary to improve productivity.

It has to be ensured that the increase in productivity due to the use of low-cost materials, processes and increasing speed of machines and men, should not lead to any decrease in quality of the output.


1908 – The industrial engineering department at Penn State wa founded by Hugo Diemer, a pioneer in the field. James Gunn coined the term “industrial engineering” in 1900 to describe the fusion of the engineer who understands production costs, analyzes them and reduces them.  Diemer was named the first head of the department.
http://www.ime.psu.edu/department/history.aspx

The fusion created by Taylor, Gilbreth, Emerson, Diemer and Going is the efficiency improvement of engineering systems to make projects viable and prosperous.


Functions and Focus Areas of Industrial Engineering


Functions and focus areas are discussed in the following article and the lists are shown in pictures..

Functions and Focus Areas of Industrial Engineering






What is Industrial Engineering?

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Narayana Rao


Principles of Industrial Engineering - Taylor - Narayana Rao

Presentation by Narayana Rao on 23 May 2017 at IISE 2017 Annual Conference - Pittsburgh

Professor Narayana Rao developed Principles of Industrial Engineering in July 2016 and presented them in two conferences. The detailed set of principles were presented in the 2017 IISE Annual Conference held in Pittsburgh, USA. The paper is included in the proceedings of the conference.
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Narayana Rao


Basic Principles of Industrial Engineering - Narayana Rao

1. Develop science for each element of a man - machine system's work related to efficiency and productivity.
2. Engineer methods, processes and operations to use the laws related to the work of machines, man, materials and other resources.
3. Select or assign workmen based on predefined aptitudes for various types of man - machine work.
4. Train workmen, supervisors, and engineers in the new methods.
5. Incorporate suggestions of operators, supervisors and engineers in the methods redesign on a continuous basis.
6. Plan and manage productivity at system level.

(Principles developed by Narayana Rao based on principles of scientific management by F.W. Taylor on 4 July 2016.)

Detailed List of Principles - Presented at IISE 2017 Annual Conference at Pittsburgh on 23 May 2017.


1. Productivity science
2. Productivity engineering
3. Industrial Engineering is applicable to all branches of engineering
4. Principles of machine utilization economy to be developed for all resources used in engineering systems.
5. Industrial engineering optimization
6. Industrial engineering economics
7. Implementation team membership and leadership
8. Human effort engineering for increasing productivity
9. Principles of motion economy to be used in all IE studies in the area of human effort engineering
10. Operator comfort and health are to be taken care of.
11. Work measurement
12. Selection of operators
13. Training of operators, supervisors and engineers
14. Productivity training and education to all
15. Employee involvement in continuous improvement of processes and products for productivity improvement.
16. Productivity incentives
17. Hearty cooperation
18. Productivity Management
19. System level focus for productivity
20. Productivity measurement
21. Cost measurement

Levels of Industrial Engineering in an Organization

Industrial Engineering Strategy - Enterprise Level Industrial Engineering

Policy Decisions by Top Management: Starting and Expanding IE Department, Approval of Productivity Improvement Project Portfolio as part of Capital Budgeting of the Company, Approving Productivity Policy, Setting Productivity and Cost Reduction Goals. Setting Employee related comfort, health and safety goals. Incentive income policy making.

https://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2014/11/industrial-engineering-strategy.html


Facilities Industrial Engineering

Facilities are used by processes. Facilities are common to processes. Taylor clearly mentioned in his "Piece Rates - Elementary Rate Fixing System" paper that he has to make modifications to all machines to increase productivity of his machine shop. Toyota even today carries out gradual improvements to the machines in the direction of autonomation. Machines are continuously improved. Period layout studies and readjustments are another example of facilities industrial engineering. 5S that demands upkeep of facilities is another example of facilities IE when it is implemented for the first time and proposed and initiated by the IE department. Thereafter it becomes the activity of operations management.

https://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2020/05/facilities-industrial-engineering.html



Process Industrial Engineering - Process Machine Effort Industrial Engineering - Process Human Effort Industrial Engineering.

Process industrial engineering is the popular method of industrial engineering. But, the process chart method was promoted by Motion Study books. The machine effort industrial engineering, that is improvement of machine effort, that was done by Taylor primarily to increase productivity got neglected in the evolution of industrial engineering. It is a weakness to be corrected to make IE a strong discipline.

https://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2021/11/process-industrial-engineering-process.html


Operation Industrial Engineering.

Process chart is a condensed version that show the entire process of producing a full product and the production of each part. The process chart is composed by symbols representing 5 operations. Operation - Inspection - Transport - Temporary Delay (WIP) - Permanent Storage (controlled store). Using process chart, the sequence of operations can be investigated and changed for more benefit. But each operation needs to be improved. It is termed simplification in process chart analysis. To do simplification information on each operation has to be collected in operation information sheets and they have to be analyzed in operation analysis sheets (Stegemerten and Maynard)

https://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2013/11/approach-to-operation-analysis-as-step.html


Element Level Analysis in Industrial Engineering

Elements are in Operations - We can understand the term "element" from the subject "Design of Machine Elements". Each engineering product has elements. Similarly each operation, that is part of a process has elements. Some are related to machines and tools used in the process. Some are related to human operators. Some are related to working conditions. Some are related to the work being done. Taylor first named the productivity department as "Elementary Rate Fixing Department." It has to improve each and every element in task and determine the output possible for unit time in the work element. The time allowed for that element for a piece or batch is determined through these elementary standard times or allowed times.

More Detailed Articles on Industrial Engineering


Taylor's Industrial Engineering
https://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2019/06/taylors-industrial-engineering.html

Taylor's Industrial Engineering in New Framework - Narayana Rao
https://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2019/07/taylors-industrial-engineering-in-new.html

Industrial Engineering in Various Functions of a Business/Industrial Organization

Industrial engineering is primarily applied in engineering departments of organizations.  But as productivity is a relevant issues in other departments, application of industrial engineering is available in other departments also.

Product Design Industrial Engineering
http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2012/09/product-design-industrial-engineering.html

Maintenance System Industrial Engineering - Online Book
http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2012/09/maintenance-system-industrial.html

Information Systems Industrial Engineering - Online Book
http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2012/09/information-systems-industrial.html

Financial System Industrial Engineering - Online Book
http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2012/09/financial-system-industrial-engineering.html

Marketing System Industrial Engineering - Online Book
http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2012/09/marketing-system-industrial-engineering.html

Supply Chain Industrial Engineering - Online Book
http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2012/09/supply-chain-industrial-engineering.html

Manufacturing System Industrial Engineering - Online Book
http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2012/09/manufacturing-system-industrial.html

Total Cost Industrial Engineering - Industrial Engineering of Enterprise Cost
http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2012/09/total-cost-industrial-engineering.html

Quality System Industrial Engineering
http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2012/10/quality-system-industrial-engineering.html

Logistical Systems Industrial Engineering (Truck, Rail, Air and Ship Transport related Industrial Engineering) (Suggested B. Venkateswara Rao, FaceBook)
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Attributes of Industrial Engineering 

Research Possibilities are there in relation to them.
Think of a sentence that links industrial engineering with each term.


#Activity #adjustment #advantage  #Adoption  #Agreement  #Aptitude #Arrangement
#Best #Big  #Better  #Bound #Benchmarking
#Comfort #care #communication #cooperation  #clear #concept #cost #costreduction #costing #costcontrol #Casestudy #Creativity
#Decision  #Development #Distribution  #Design #Decrease #Dance #Danger #Dream #Dignity #Demonstration #Desire
#Engine #Engineering #Employee #Employment #Effectiveness  #Efficiency  #Engagement #Excitement  #Excellence #Eager #eagerness #Extreme #Extrovert #Extroversion #Extension #Existence #Extra #Estimate
#Fatigue #Forecasting #Finance #Fitness  #Future
#Goal #Game  #Going  #Gain #Guess
#Hope #Heat #Harness #Hard #
#Increase  #Involve #Insure #Improve #Improvement

Top 100 Management Theory Articles of the blog

June First Week - IE Knowledge Revision

http://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2016/05/june-first-week-ie-knowledge-revision.html


Industrial Engineering ONLINE Course

Online Handbook of Industrial Engineering

Updated  1 June 2022,  3 June 2021,  20 May 2020,  1 June 2019, 25 May 2019,   4 June 2017,  27 May 2016,  16 Dec 2011