Enhancing Productivity Using Time Study
- Çağkan Ekici
- Aug 9, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 5, 2025
When you work in the manufacturing industry of any kind, your enterprise's duty is to ensure every work is done as efficiently as possible. Well, is there a way to measure every work like this? Can enterprises really identify the best way to do so, how do they do it?
One of the best ways to find the most efficient and productive production method is by performing time studies.
Ever heard of a time study before? It’s quite simple and is much like what the name suggests.
A time study in manufacturing analyzes each step of a production process to determine the average time required for completion. It is a valuable method for measuring how much time employees spend on individual tasks, especially in processes involving repetitive cycles.
By closely examining the duration of each step, manufacturers can pinpoint where time is being lost, uncover inefficiencies, and identify opportunities to streamline operations and improve overall productivity.
Pioneered by the Gilbreths, motion study involves filming workers during their tasks to break down and assess each movement. The goals are twofold:
To identify inefficient or unnecessary motions that waste time or cause fatigue
To standardize the most effective movements as best practices
By optimizing physical actions, motion studies complement time studies, together enabling manufacturers to streamline operations, improve ergonomics, and boost productivity.
Enhancing productivity is essential for the manufacturing industry to remain competitive and achieve sustainable growth. By closely observing and analyzing every detail of the production process, manufacturers can identify the most efficient methods, refine workflows, and tailor operations to achieve an optimized, ideal state of performance.
The Importance of Time Study in Manufacturing
For over a century, time study has been an essential method for gathering data on manufacturing processes. Frederick Taylor began time studies in the 1880s to determine the duration of particular tasks occurring under specific conditions. The time study was a component of the scientific management theory. Taylor's approach focused on reducing time waste for maximum efficiency, therefore manufacturers have started to use time studies to optimize their operations.
To understand time in manufacturing, it’s essential to focus on time‑critical tasks and how they influence overall performance. For example, you need to know how long it takes to complete a specific task and what effect that duration has on the rest of the process.
Where does time play a significant role in your manufacturing operations? How should it be measured? And what does the value in a time study represent? Here are the main ways time can be spent in the manufacturing industry:
Production time: Production time is measured from the moment the raw materials enter the production process to the moment the finished products leave the assembly line. Reducing production time by eliminating non-value-adding activities helps to reduce costs.
Maintenance time: Maintenance time is the time that takes to service a machine back to an operational standard Since maintenance time is equal to downtime, reducing it helps save money and increase profits.
Takt time: Takt time is a calculation of the available production time divided by customer demand. The purpose of takt time is to precisely match production with demand. If takt time matches with the actual production rate, it means reduced bottlenecks and eliminated areas of inefficiency.
How Are New AI-powered Technologies Changing Time Study?
While Industry 4.0 introduced the era of smart factories with IoT and data-driven automation, the latest wave of innovation is being shaped by AI-native technologies.
For example, for time study and efficiency analysis, Khenda offers two AI-powered tools:
CI Platform (Cloud-Based): Engineers upload process videos; AI automatically extracts cycle times, identifies waste, and generates visual reports. No stopwatch, no manual effort, just fast, data-driven insights for continuous improvement.
Vision MES (Real-Time, On-Prem): Cameras track machines and operators in real time, logging downtime, manual work, and cycle times, without PLCs. Teams get instant visibility and can act on issues as they happen.
Both platforms eliminate bias, speed up analysis, and help factories move from reactive fixes to proactive optimization.
14-day free trial of Khenda's CI Platform: Register or Request a Demo Meeting
Learn more about real-time production monitoring: Vision MES
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a time study in manufacturing?
A time study analyzes each step in a production process to determine how long tasks take on average. It helps identify where time is loss and how processes can be optimized to boost efficiency.
What is the difference between time study and motion study?
While time study focuses on how long each step in a manufacturing process takes, motion study examines how the work is performed—analyzing the physical movements and body postures involved in each task.
How has AI changed time studies?
Modern AI tools can automatically extract time data from video footage, eliminating manual measurement, speeding up analysis, and removing human bias. AI also uncovers patterns and improvement areas faster than traditional methods.
What tools does Khenda offer for time and motion studies?
CI Platform: Upload any video, and the AI analyzes it to generate cycle times, identify waste, and suggest process improvements for repetitive tasks.
Vision MES: Tracks machines and operators in real time using cameras, logging cycle time, downtime, and labor metrics based on machine lights, and station view.
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