Abigayle's Writing Portfolio

Click here to view or download this document using Word.

Abstract

This report affirms that “working smart” can improve production without added labor. In order to prove this, the time necessary to place thirty pegs in a pegboard was measured under a variety of conditions. Measurements indicated a decrease in assembly time under improved assembly conditions. Based on this experiment it is concluded that improved assembly procedures increases production levels.

Introduction

The claim that working smarter improves productivity is important to manufacturers interested in increasing their output. This report proves the claim using a test system of 30 pegs that are assembled on a pegboard under a variety of conditions. The conditions vary from a simple procedure to a time-efficient “smart” procedure. For each condition, the time the assembly required was measured and the conclusion is based upon the comparison of these assembly times.

Materials and Methods

The materials necessary to complete this experiment include: a pegboard with 30 holes, 30 pegs, two boxes to store pegs in and a stopwatch.

This experiment entails the following procedure:

1. Measure the time required for one person to insert all the pegs, blunt end first, into the nonchamfered holes using only one hand with the peg box to the right of the peg board. Complete three iterations using a different operator each time. This is condition A.
2. Measure the time required for one person to insert each peg, pointed end first, into the chamfered holes using only one hand with the peg box to the right of the peg board. Complete three iterations using a different operator each time. This is condition B.
3. Measure the time required for one person to insert each peg, pointed end first, into the chamfered holes using only one hand with the peg box to the left of the peg board. Complete three iterations using a different operator each time. This is condition C.
4. Measure the time required for one person to insert each peg, pointed end first, into the chamfered holes using both hands with half the pegs in each of two peg boxes placed on either side of the peg board. Insert the pegs one row at a time starting from the outside of the board moving in and completing each row before moving to the next. Complete three iterations using a different operator each time. This is condition D.
5. Measure the time required for one person to insert each peg, pointed end first, into the chamfered holes using both hands with half the pegs in each of two peg boxes placed on either side of the peg board. Insert the pegs one row at a time starting from the inside of the board moving out and completing each row before moving to the next. Complete three iterations using a different operator each time. This is condition E.
6. For each condition calculate the average time needed to assemble the system.
7. Compare each condition to the preceding condition by calculating the percent change in average assembly time.
8. Calculate the percentage of additional assemblies completed by one worker in an 8 hour shift as a result of using an improved assembly method.

Results

Discussion

The average time on trial B was 35.5% better than trial A. This was caused by using the pointed end of the pegs and the chamfered holes to make it easier to place the pegs in the holes without lining the pegs up perfectly. The average time for condition C was worse than the condition B time, and condition E did not time as well as condition D. This is not completely logical and may have been caused by a flaw in the experiment. A different set of testers did the trials for conditions C and E than for conditions B and D and may have affected results. However, both conditions D and E timed significantly better than conditions B or C proving the importance of using both hands. Once the pegs were inserted in pairs times improved impressively, regardless of the order. Theoretically, condition E should have tested the best because the operator would not have to reach over the finished pegs to insert the new pegs. If repeated, this experiment would complete more than three iterations and employ the same operators for each condition.

Click here to view or download this document using Word.