Question 1

Labor standards can help to determine which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Labor standards can help to determine the labor content of a product, staffing needs, incentive plans, and efficiency. Therefore, all of these options are correct.

Question 2

Suppose that the allowance factor for a job is 0.5 and the normal time is 4 hours. What is the standard time?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suppose that the allowance factor for a...

Question 3

Which of the following techniques may NOT provide reliable and accurate labor standards?

Accepted Answer

Historical experience may not always provide reliable and accurate labor standards because it relies on past data that may not account for changes in technology, processes, or worker skill levels. Methods like MTM, time studies, work sampling, and predetermined time standards are more systematic and analytical, thus generally considered more reliable for setting labor standards.

Question 4

Labor standards were pioneered by Frank and Lillian Gilbreth and:

Accepted Answer

Labor standards were first developed by Frederick Taylor, known as the father of scientific management. The Gilbreths worked with Taylor and further developed labor standards by incorporating time and motion studies to improve efficiency and productivity.

Question 5

Suppose that the allowance factor for a job is 0.05, and the normal time is 5 hours. What is the standard time?

Accepted Answer

Standard time is calculated as:
Standard time = (1 + allowance factor) x normal time
Substituting the given values, we get:
Standard time = (1 + 0.05) x 5
Standard time = 1.05 x 5
Standard time = 5.25 or 5.3 (rounded to one decimal place)
The closest option is D, 5.3 hours.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a use of labor standards?

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed (A through D) are indeed uses of labor standards. Labor standards are used to determine the labor content of items produced, make cost and time estimates before production begins, decide on crew size and work balance, and serve as a basis for wage-incentive plans.

Question 7

An advantage of work sampling is that it completely breaks down work elements.

Accepted Answer

Work sampling is used to estimate the proportion of time spent on different activities, but it does not provide a detailed breakdown of work elements like time and motion studies do.

Question 8

A manager who is conducting a time study now needs an accuracy of ±0.1 minutes, rather than ±0.05 minutes as in the past. Because of this change in accuracy, the new required sample size becomes:

Accepted Answer

The required sample size for a given level of accuracy is inversely proportional to the square of the desired margin of error. Therefore, if the margin of error changes from ±0.05 to ±0.1, the square of the ratio of the old margin to the new margin is (0.05/0.1)^2 = (1/2)^2 = 1/4. This means the new required sample size is one-fourth as large as before.

Question 9

The smaller the percentage established for allowances:

Accepted Answer

The allowances are added to the normal time to determine the standard time for a task. If the percentage of allowances is smaller, then the difference between normal time and standard time is less, indicating that normal time is closer to standard time.

Question 10

Most unions tend to accept the use of predetermined time standards.

Accepted Answer

Most unions have accepted the use of predetermined time standards in order to negotiate fair wages and work conditions for their members. These standards ensure that workers are paid for the amount of time it takes to complete a task, rather than being paid a flat rate regardless of the time it takes. This system is generally seen as more fair and equitable for workers.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a method used to set labor standards?

Accepted Answer

Government laws and regulations are not a method used to set labor standards. However, they may influence or determine specific labor standards that must be followed in a particular industry. The other methods listed - historical experience, time studies, predetermined time standards, and work sampling - are commonly used to establish or measure labor standards within a specific organization.

Question 12

Standard time equals the total normal time multiplied by the allowance factor.

Accepted Answer

Standard time equals the total normal time plus any additional time allowances. It is not multiplied by an allowance factor.

Question 13

Labor standards are defined as the:

Accepted Answer

Labor standards refer to the amount of time required to perform a job or part of it. It is a measure of work efficiency and productivity. This includes the time required to perform each activity, the number of workers required, and the efficiency of the workers. The other options do not accurately define labor standards.

Question 14

In time studies, normal time is:

Accepted Answer

Normal time is calculated by multiplying the average observed time by a performance rating factor to adjust for the worker's performance level.

Question 15

An advantage of predetermined time standards is that the standard can be set before a task is actually performed.

Accepted Answer

Predetermined time standards are created by analyzing the steps involved in a task and using historical data to calculate the amount of time it should take to perform each step. Since this data is used to set the standard before the task is actually performed, it can help ensure that workers are given a fair and realistic amount of time to complete their tasks.

Question 16

Work sampling estimates the percent of time that a worker spends on various tasks.

Accepted Answer

Work sampling is a statistical method used to estimate the percent of time that a worker spends on various tasks by taking random observations at predetermined time intervals.

Question 17

Normal time for a stopwatch study is equal to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Normal time is calculated by multiplying the average observed time by the performance rating factor. This accounts for the worker's performance relative to the standard performance level.

Question 18

Normal time equals the average observed time multiplied by the performance rating factor.

Accepted Answer

Normal time is calculated by multiplying the average observed time by the performance rating factor.

Question 19

Timing a sample of a worker's performance and using it as a basis for setting a standard time describes which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Timing a worker's performance and using it as a basis for setting a standard time is referred to as time studies. It involves breaking down a specific task or job into its components, analyzing the motion involved in performing each component, and establishing a standard time for completing the task based on the time taken by a skilled worker. Thus, option B is the correct answer. Predetermined time standards is a broader term that refers to the use of predetermined time values for specific motions or activities, rather than measuring actual times through time studies. Work sampling involves collecting data on the proportion of time spent by workers on different activities using statistical sampling techniques. Methods time measurement (MTM) is a system for analyzing and breaking down manual work tasks into basic elements, and assigning standard times for each element. Left-hand, right-hand charting is a technique used in time and motion studies to record and analyze the movements required to perform a task.

Question 20

A worker completed a task 10 times during a period in which a typical trained employee completes the task 9 times. What is the worker's performance rating?

Accepted Answer

The worker's performance rating is calculated by dividing the number of tasks they completed by the number of tasks a typical trained employee completes, then multiplying by 100 to get a percentage. So, $ \frac{10}{9} \times 100 = 111\% $.

Quiz 9: Human Resources, Job Design, and Work Measurement