WORK SAMPLING

Submitted By:
Nidhi Kumari
Vishwanath Kumar
WORK SAMPLING
 Work sampling is the statistical technique for
determining the proportion of time spent by worker
 It is a method for analyzing work by taking a large
number of observations at random times.
 Use work sampling to:
 Determine machine utilization
 Determine allowances
 Establish time standards
 Use as many observations as practical
 Take observations at random times over two or more
weeks.
 Work sampling is a technique used to investigate the
proportions of total time devoted to the various activities
that constitute a job or work situation.
 The results of work sampling are effective for determining
machine and personnel utilization, allowances applicable to
the job and production standards.
THREE MAIN USES OF WORK SAMPLE
 Activity and delay sampling - to measure the activities
and delays of workers or machines. Ex:percentage of
working
 Perfomance sampling - to establish a performance index
or performance level for the person during his or her
working time.
 Work measurement - to measure a manual task, i.e, to
establish a time standard for an operation.
THEORY OF WORK SAMPLİNG
 The theory of work sampling is based on the fundamental law
of probability: at a given instant, an event can be either
present or absent.

 Random sampling requires that there be no bias in the

sampling process. It is important that the concept of
randomness be understood and carefully followed in work
sampling studies.
 STEPS INVOLVED
 Define the tasks which need to be analyzed and determine the
desired accuracy.
 Determine factors for study
 Number of observations to be measured
 Number of observers
 Number of days or shifts needed to be studied
 Design the observation form
 Make observations according to the plan.
 Analyze and summarize the data.
Observation Form
 HOW TO CALCULATE
 Normal Distribution Curve - It represents graphically the probability
of the occurrence of certain phenomena.

 Generally , accuracy of +/- 5% and confidence interval of 95% is

used.
 Formula for determining the sample size:

Example:
 Example: A worker working in shifts does work for some part of
time and remains idle for rest of the time. Let us suppose that
there are 60 observations, out of which there were 57 working
and 3 idle observations.
 Here, idle time % = (3/60) = 5
 Working Time % = (57/60) = 95
 If a worker works in a shift of 8 hrs (480 min), idle time is 24
min and working time is 456 min.
 ADVANTAGES
 It’s an economical method of doing the time study of
work.
 It is a highly flexible method wherein data can be
collected anytime without affecting the results.
 Chance of day to day or weekly variation are reduced
since the time span of taking observation is wide.
 These methods are less tedious and fatiguing.
 DISADVANTAGES
 It’s not an economical process when a single operator/
machine is involved.
 Doesn’t provide any elemental time data.
 The process of work study is difficult to understand
compared to time study.
 The working pattern may be changed by the workers and
then it becomes difficult and results may be erroneous.
 APPLICATIONS
 For ratio delay studies.
 To estimate the percentage of utilization of machines and
labour.
 To measure performance.
 To provide a basis for indirect labor standards.
 To determine the standard time for a non-repetitive operation.
 To determine the allowances for inclusion in standard times.
 THANK YOU

REFERENCES
• ILO Book
• http://www.mbaskool.com/business-concepts/human-resources-hr-
terms/15437-work-sampling.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_sampling
• http://ie.emu.edu.tr/development/dosyalar/%7Bo0F-eq0-
Hvi%7DCH30.pdf