How to determine the # of trips by a material handler

[macvicar]

I'm part of a team that is working on a project to determine the amount of labour necessary for our material handling department. We have been able to develop standard data for most of the operations but are having difficulty coming up with a method to determine the number of trips that each handler will need to take in a day for each defined route. What would the best way be to determine the contents of each trip & the number of trips required ? We need something that will allow us to do &quot;what-ifs&quot; should there be a change is production volume.<br><br>Thank You<br><br>Jeff

 

[BML]

Make sure to include whether or not the material handler takes return product.  That is, if the MH moves a skid from the dock to a work center, does that same MH then take product from the work center to the dock?  Does the MH return empty-handed, or take product from one work center to another on the way back to the dock?

 

[superdave]

Hello,<br><br>I would sugguest using a time study.&nbsp;&nbsp;The subject will be timed over a certain time pd. for instance 1 wk., two days. Whatever your decision is you will have to time the worker from when he leaves his station to do what ever he has to do till he comes back. With your times, use some statistics to get the information that you need. There is a book that I recommend from when I took motion and time.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is called <br>&quot;WORK METHODS and MEASUREMENT for MANAGEMENT. by Leonard A. Doty.&nbsp;&nbsp;I am sure you will find this information very useful.<br><br>

 

[lok62]

Another variation on a strict time study is work sampling: it basically takes a statistical &quot;snapshot&quot; of activities over time. The same text listed by Superdave should cover this technique as well. The &quot;HANDBOOK OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING&quot; (G. Salvendy, ed., published by IIE) also has chapters on both time study and work sampling.