Balance in an operation.

TM 38-400/NAVSUP PUB 572/AFMAN 23-210 MCO 4450.14/DLAM 4145.12

ally the culmination of a BALANCED OPERATION

To illustrate how this can be done,

through proper application of the other four principles.

use the suggested check list if the

The principles of work means simply, doing the greatest

tractor-trailer train example has been

amount of work in the least amount of time (man-hours).

used. If you have used an example

Speed of movement does not necessarily mean a good

of your own, develop a similar check

operations.

list by breaking down the job into all

A balanced operation, with each step

of its parts. (Have the group discuss

performed in its proper sequence without lost motions

each of the points and decide what is

and at speed consistent with the slowest step or

the "PROPER WAY.")

capabilities of the personnel or mechanical equipment

-"If each part of this job cannot be improved and we are

involved, is a good operation. The question "How long

convinced of that fact-THEN ADD or REDUCE

does it take to do a job?" can be answered in two ways:

MANPOWER or EQUIPMENT."

Length of time it takes to accomplish the job, and the

-"We can also aid in the attaining of BALANCE if we

TOTAL MAN-HOURS it takes to accomplish the job;

take care to AVOID the following TIMEWASTERS:

both are important in relation to results that are to be

EQUIPMENT WAITING FOR LABORERS

attained. The fact that a carload of materials has been

LABORERS WAITING FOR EQUIPMENT

unloaded in 11/2 hours is a clue ONLY TO THE SPEED

EQUIPMENT ARRIVING EMPTY WHEN PAL-

with which it was unloaded. The added fact that it took

LETS OR OTHER NECESSITIES SHOULD BE

six persons 11/2 hours to do the job is indicative of the

CARRIED

MAN-HOURS required and also the efficiency of the job

WAITING FOR CHECKERS."

in relation to cost in manpower.

(1) Even after the seemingly best method has

been chosen, it will not produce the desired results

(2) We must remember that we want to

unless there is balance in the operation. Need for

accomplish TWO THINGS: REDUCE COST-directly in

synchronized and balanced operations is a most

MANPOWER, in MONEY-and INCREASE THE

pressing problem in warehouses today. "BALANCE" IN

EFFICIENCY with which the job is done. Figures

AN OPERATION MEANS THAT THE WORK HAS

indicating this decrease in manpower and increase in

BEEN PROPERLY PLANNED SO THAT ALL

efficiency are difficult to compute, but it is most nearly

MANPOWER AND EQUIPMENT USED ON THE JOB

accomplished by use of the TONS PER MAN-HOUR

ARE WORKING CONTINUOUSLY-WITHOUT LOSS

figure. How well this PRINCIPLE OF WORK is applied

OF MOTION OR LOSS OF TIME.

can also be measured by the TONS PER MAN-HOUR

(2) In order to gain balance in any materials

figure. Some examples of variations in operation and

handling operation, the time it takes to perform each

results in tons per man-hour follow:

part of the job must be determined and the differences

i. Balance in an operation.

in production of the separate parts equalized by adding

or reducing the number of persons and pieces of

-"To

any

MATERIALS

HANDLING

JOB

equipment used. For example, in unloading a boxcar,

EFFICIENTLY and apply the PRINCIPLE OF WORK,

using a tractor-trailer train, we should determine: time it

we must have BALANCE IN THE OPERATION."

takes two persons to load pallet; time it takes tractor to

-"By

'BALANCE'

mean-WORK

has been

travel to stack with loaded train, uncouple at stack, pick

PLANNED so that all MAN-POWER and EQUIPMENT

up empty train, and return to car; and time it takes for

used on the job are WORKING CONTINUOUSLY

truck to stack loaded pallets.

WITHOUT LOST MOTION OR TIME."

-"To get BALANCE in an operation: The TIME it takes to

(3) In this operation, the tractor-trailer is the

perform EACH PART of the job must be determined and

balance wheel and by increasing or reducing the number

the DIFFERENCE EQUALIZED by the NUMBER of

of trailers hauled, the entire operation should be kept

persons used and the PIECES of EQUIPMENT used."

continuous. After it has been determined where the

ILLUSTRATE what is meant by using the example given

operation is OUT OF BALANCE, we must then check

or one which you have prepared from an actual

each part of the job to make sure that it is being done

operation that you observed and studied.

properly-that the workers know how to do it. Applying

-"After you have determined WHERE the operation is

this idea to the illustration, we would jot down the

OUT of BALANCE, then CHECK EACH PART of the

various parts of the job and then check them: Laborers

JOB to make sure it is being done PROPERLY."

handling

NOTE

7-38