Work measurement is the application of techniques designed to establish the time for an average worker to carry out a specified manufacturing task at a defined level of performance. It is concerned with the length of time it takes to complete a work task assigned to a specific job.

• Attempts to measure work and to establish work standards have always resulted in reactions, promoted criticism and generally have been the topic of considerable controversy among the managements and work force/workers.
• It gives feeling to the workers that standards may result in more effective control and they may be required to do hard work for lesser wages.
• Management feels that the use of standards may lead workers to work hard which may result in higher wage bills.
• Application of techniques designed to establish the time for qualified operator/worker to carry out a specified job at a defined level of performance is called the work measurement.

Work measurement helps to uncover non-standardization that exist in the workplace and non-value adding activities and waste.

A work has to be measured for the following reasons:

1. To discover and eliminate lost or ineffective time.
2. To establish standard times for performance measurement.
3. To measure performance against realistic expectations.
4. To set operating goals and objectives
5. Developing the desired system and method usually the one with lowest cost.
6. Standardizing the system and method.
7. Determining the time required by a qualified and properly trained worker working at a normal pace to do a specific operation.

Uses and objectives of Work Measurement:

1. Target time for each job can be scientifically estimated, with this estimate realistic schedules and manpower requirements can be prepared.
2. Sound comparison of alternative methods is possible by comparing their basic times.
3. Useful wage incentive schemes can be formulated on the basis of target times.
4. In can lead to proper balancing of the work distribution.
5. It can help to analyse the activities for performing a job with the view to eliminate or reduce unnecessary or repetitive operations so that human effort can be minimized.
6. To standardise the efficient method of performing operations.
7. To standardise conditions for efficient performance.
8. To determine man and machines ratio for effective and efficient utilisation of both.
9. To provide information’s and basis for production planning and scheduling activities.