The method determines the time

Systems

MTM-1

The basic MTM data was developed by H B Maynard, J L Schwab and G J Stegemerten of the Methods Engineering Council during a consultancy assignment at the Westinghouse Brake and Signal Corporation, USA in the 1940's. This data and the application rules for the MTM system were refined, extended, defined, industrially tested and documented as a result of further work in later years.

In 1948 Maynard, Stegemerten and Schwab published the book "Methods­Time Measurement" giving full details of the development of the MTM system and its application rules. The use of MTM spread, firstly in the USA, and then to other industrialised countries. In 1951 the US/Canada MTM Association for Standards and Research was formed by MTM users. The system originators then assigned the MTM copyrights to the MTM Association.

MTM is complementary to other Industrial Engineering charting and analytical techniques; it does not replace them. It should be used after broader techniques have established the Necessity and Purpose, Place, Sequence, Person and Means of the tasks to be evaluated.

Definition

M is a procedure which analyses any manual operation or method into the basic motions required to perform it and assigns to each motion a predetermined time standard which is determined by the nature of the motion and the conditions under which it is made.

By summation of the individual time standards, the time for a task at MTM100 performance is determined. The data is suited to evaluating the method actually performed and is independent of type of work, workplace layout and equipment.

Derivation

The criteria specified for the original Westinghouse assignment were to develop a system of Standard Data which would give:

  • Methods Engineering potential - the ability to develop good methods in advance of production
  • Consistency of results when used by different analysts
  • A universal system which could be used on both repetitive and non­repetitive work
  • A system which could be readily demonstrated as being fair to those whose work would be evaluated

Advantages

MTM-1 has the following advantages over Time Study:

  • It is faster to use than Time Study, for comparable accuracy and methods description
  • The need to time and rate operator performance is eliminated
  • It shows a clear and specific relationship between the method used and the time required for a task
  • Improved methods and time standards can be developed by visualisation before commitment of capital expenditure
  • Machine and equipment alternatives can be compared by visualisation before commitment of capital expenditure
  • Optimum manual methods can be compared with automated or computerised alternatives to quantify the true scope for savings

Limitations

MTM deals with manual actions and simple mental processing. It does not cover process or machine controlled times. These must be evaluated using a stop-watch or manufacturers' data.

Certain highly controlled manual actions are outside the scope of MTM-1. Examples are:

  • Working in restriction clothing
  • Art work
  • Decision making

No PMT system, such as MTM-1, is suitable for measuring the full range of work areas. For longer work cycles MTM-2, MTM-3, UAS, MEK or SAM may be more economic and give sufficient accuracy and methods description.

Where the work content is subject to a great deal of variability, or where a fast average time is required at the expense of accuracy other techniques, such as Time Study, Activity Sampling and Analytical Estimating can be usefully integrated with the use of MTM.