MOTION STUDY AND TIME STUDY MEASURE INDIVIDUAL EFFICIENCY.—­ Motion Study and Time Study measure individual capacity or efficiency by providing data from which standards can be made.  These standards made, the degree to which the individual approaches or exceeds the standard can be determined.

MOTION STUDY AND TIME STUDY MEASURE METHODS.—­Motion Study and Time Study are devices for measuring methods.  By their use, old methods are “tried out,” once and for all, and their relative value in efficiency, determined.  By their use, also, new methods are “tried out.”  This is most important under Scientific Management.

Any new method suggested can be tested in a short time.  Such elements of it as have already been tested, can be valued at the start, the new elements introduced can be motion studied and time studied, and waste eliminated to as great an extent as possible, with no loss of time or thought.

Under Scientific Management, the men who understand what motion study and time study mean, know that their suggested methods will be tested, not only fairly, but so effectively that they, and everyone else, can know at once exactly the worth of their suggestions.

COMPARISON OF METHODS FOSTERS INVENTION.—­The value of such comparative study can be seen at a glance.  When one such method after another is tried out, not only can one tell quickly what a new method is worth, but can also determine what it is worth compared to all others which have been considered.  This is because the study is a study of elements, primarily, and not of methods as a whole.  Not only can suggested methods be estimated, but also new methods which have never been suggested will become apparent themselves through this study.  Common elements, being at once classified and set aside, the new ones will make themselves prominent, and better methods for doing work will suggest themselves, especially to the inventive mind.

BOOKS OF PRELIMINARY DATA NEEDED.—­In order that this investigation may be best fostered, not only must books of standards be published, but also books of preliminary data, which other workers may attack if they desire, and where they can find common elements.  Such books of preliminary data are needed on all subjects.[12]

MOTION STUDY AND TIME STUDY MEASURE EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS.—­Time and motion study are measuring devices for ascertaining relative merits of different kinds of equipment, surroundings and tools.  Through them, the exact capacities of equipment or of a tool or machine can be discovered at once, and also the relative value in efficiency.  Also motion study and time study determine exactly how a tool or a piece of equipment can best be used.

In “On The Art of Cutting Metals” Dr. Taylor explains the effect of such study on determining the amount of time that tools should be used, the speed at which they should be used, the feed, and so on.[13] This paper exemplifies more thoroughly than does anything else ever written the value of Time Study, and the scientific manner in which it is applied.