Time study is a work measurement technique for recording the times and rates of working for the elements of a specified job carried out under specified conditions. It is also used for analyzing the data so as to determine the time necessary for carrying out the job at the defined level of performance. Simply put, it is the process of observing and recording the time required for carrying out individual processes in an industrial operation.

Stop watch time is the basic technique for determining accurate time standards. They are economical for repetitive type of work. The following steps need to be followed for carrying out a successful time study.

1. Selection of the work that needs to be studied.
2. Obtain and record all the information available about the job, the operator and the working conditions that are likely to affect the time study work.
3. Breakdown the operation into elements.
4. Measure the time by means of a stop watch taken by the operator to perform individual element of the operation.
5. Simultaneously assess the operators effective speed of work relative to the observer’s concept of ‘normal’ speed. This is called performance rating.
6. Adjust the observed time by rating factor to obtain normal time for each element Normal time = (Observed time x Performance rating) / 100
7. Add the suitable allowances to compensate for fatigue, personal needs, contingencies. etc. to give standard time for each element.
8. Compute allowed time for the entire job by adding elemental standard times considering frequency of occurrence of each element.
9. Make a detailed job description describing the method for which the standard time is established.

Thus, the time study is complete. These steps have to be followed for successfully carrying out a time study.