Title: How to correctly perform a work sampling

Authors: Yossi Hadad; Michael Z. Hanani

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Shamoon College of Engineering, Bialik/Basel Sts., P.O. Box 45, Beer Sheva 84100, Israel ' Peres Academic Center, 10 Shimon Peres Street, Rehovot 7608805, Israel

Abstract: The use of work sampling as an efficient tool for determining values of parameters such as the rate of employment or idle time of employees, machine utilisation, the rate of allowances to be allocated to employees, and even the setting of standard time, has been growing in recent years. The reason is the advantages that this method has over other methods. This paper describes the 'correct' way to perform a work sampling: the steps required, methods for identifying and removing irregular (out-of-control) samples, and three methods for determining how many observations must be made to determine the values of the various parameters. These are all essential to a 'correct' execution of the work sampling technique. We present three methods for deciding the required number of observations to determine the values of the various parameters (two of them based on the Pareto principle, taking into account the cumulative weight of the various activities performed, and a third intended to ensure compliance with the required inaccuracy of the entire sample).

Keywords: industrial engineering; work sampling; Pareto principle; required sample size; efficiency; logistics systems.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2023.129002

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2023 Vol.44 No.2, pp.179 - 197

Received: 26 Jan 2020
Accepted: 21 Jan 2021
Published online: 14 Feb 2023 *

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