Using Palm PilotsTM: Work Measurement Without a Stopwatch and Clipboard

Bill Tolo, B.S.I.E., M.A.

May 20, 2003

Store Support: Workload Mission Statement

Understand store workload & optimize Develop accurate workload measurementsMeasure store workload & productivity rates for budgeted expense centers

Work Measurement Tools

Palm PilotsTM

M505M515 replaces M505

M100s (qty = 100)Palm ZireTM replaces M100

Laubrass Inc. UMTTM softwareLaptop/Desktop PC

Advantages of Using Palm PilotsTM (PDAs)

AccuracyTimelinessCapacity Additional DataStudy OpportunitiesEnd User SatisfactionDoable: Because You Can

Study Process

Design StudyWhich technique works best?

Collect DataIs it doable? Enough data in time

Analyze DataLet the data speak

Present FindingsNow that we know this, so what?

Work Measurement Techniques

Work SamplingNon-repetitive tasks : Indirect

Time StudyRepetitive tasks : Direct Observation

Engineered Data CollectionWorkload varies : Direct & Indirect

Work Measurement Projects

Work Sampling:Cash Office (self administered)

Time Study:Price Changes

Engineered Data Collection: Receipts Processing

Work Sampling: Cash Office

Objective: Measure current cash reconciliation processSelf Administered: data anonymousStudy Design: 11 stores, 2 weeksTask list 20 elements maximumResults: Over 10% budget reduction

Work Sampling:

Press green triangle to Start5 Samples/HourPress task buttonPress red button at end of shiftEveryday a study

Work Sampling: Cash Office

Work Sampling:

Time Study: Price Change

Validate current budget methodologyNew process prints price ticketLarge workload variation

Jewelry, ties, dresses, dishes, swimwear, shoes, juniors, infants, men’s, handbagsMerchandise on sales floor/in stockroomsFirst and Further markdowns

Stores vary by density & volumeTicket over 46,000,000 annually

Time Study: Price Change

Time Study:Price Changes

Use start modeEnter qty under # keyEnter notes under paperclipPress hour glass for pausen= sample size

Time Study: Price Changes

Units = 304Hours = 2.174 (elemental time)Export to ExcelTM

Adjust for Performance and PF&D

Time Study: Price Changes

Observation Exclusion

Time Study: Price Changes

Engineered Data Collection:Receipts Processing

Validate budget methodologyConduct studies by store typeEach trailer has unique merchandise mix: hardlines, softlines, cosmeticsObserve entire trailer start to finishAve 10-25 team members/trailerOver 100,000,000 units annually

Engineered Data Collection:Receipts Processing

Engineered Data Collection:Receipts Processing

IE runs Palm PilotTM for each team member

Engineered Data Collection:Receipts Processing

Data summarized in ExcelTM

WinsFocus on observationsReal Time sample sizeEasily to combine studiesStatistically eliminate or analyze

elements or observationsAdditional data

date & time for each observationAlready have a Palm PilotTM

Cool Factor vs. Nerd Factor

Learnings

Must communicate via laptopDo not have software on the networkData not backed up until it’s downloaded

Use Palm PilotsTM with rechargeable batteriesMust be Palm proficient to write notesHard to add elements “on the fly”

ConclusionsUse Work MeasurementNo one knows better than IEKnow the difference

“how long it should take” “how long it actually takes”

Palm PilotsTM are here to stayWork Sampling Results: 3 wks to 3 daysTime Study Results in 2 hrs

Acknowledgements

The concepts presented here apply to other hardware/software combinations.Examples are for learning purposes only. All registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners; Palm, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, and Laubrass, Inc.All rights reserved.

References

Aft, Larry. Work Measurement and Methods Improvement. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2000.Niebel, Benjamin W. and Freivalds, Andris. Methods, Standards, and Work Design. McGraw Hill, 2003.Brassard,Charles. Laubrass, Inc., http://www.Laubrass.com/

Work Measurement

“Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” Albert Einstein

Questions?Comments!