TIME AND MOTION STUDY IN A SEWING WORKSHOP
Keywords:
time study; motion study; productivity; garment manufacturing; operational efficiencyAbstract
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46296/ig.v9i18.0360
Abstract
The optimization of production processes is essential for improving the efficiency and competitiveness of garment manufacturing companies. This study aimed to conduct a time and motion analysis of the production process of a school sports uniform at the sewing workshop in order to identify critical operations, non-value-added movements, and improvement opportunities. A quantitative research methodology with a descriptive nature based on a non-experimental and cross-sectional design was used to conduct this research. Observations made directly, plus the development of flow diagrams to represent processes, and then applying continuous stopwatch time study methods through the entirety of the production cycle were how data was collected. The average total time to manufacture was determined to be 91.57 minutes. Within the total time to manufacture, T-Shirt and Shorts operations accounted for 45.06% of the time used in production processes; therefore, these two operations are the most significant within the manufacturing process. From observations made during the study, a total of 36 different non-value-added movements were identifiable based upon the type of movement(s) taking place, such as transferring work within a workstation, searching for tools, or repositioning fabric pieces. After evaluating and assessing all the data collected during this study, recommendations were made which included workstation layout redesign/optimization, a more organized method of storing materials and supplies, and an establishment of standardized operational methods. The conclusion reached from conducting time studies and motion studies provides evidence supporting the use of these studies as an effective means for rediscovering opportunities for improvement thus resulting in increases in productivity and efficiency of small-scale garment manufacturing workshops.
Keywords: time study; motion study; productivity; garment manufacturing; operational efficiency.
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