What is the unit of measurement for movement while performing a task?
October 19, 2014 7:39 PM Subscribe
I can't remember the unit of measure given in a, potentially older or not very well known, engineering textbook that focused on wise design (proper kitchen counter height/depth, doorway width decisions, funtional lighting, etc) choices. Picking up your coffee cup would be 3 %UNITNAMEHERE%. You reach for the mug, grasp the mug, and lift the mug. Three thingymabobs. What is that word? Or... am I crazy?
So, the example I recall the class going into, and when I say class I mean hippy-nutty-crunchy-crossover class between engineering and the arts college so the book in question could be way out in left field or a standard field text for this sort of thing, was cabinets.
To get a plate out of a cabinet in most homes it takes, something like, the following actions to complete:
1) Reach for cabinet door.
2) Grasp cabinet door handle.
3) Open cabinet door.
4) Release cabinet door handle.
5) Reach into cabinet.
6) Grasp plate.
7) Lift plate from cabinet.
8) Place plate on counter.
9) Release plate.
10) Reach for [open] cabinet door.
11) Grasp cabinet door handle.
12) Close cabinet door.
13) Release cabinet door handle.
14) Finish or, possibly, lower hand to plate.
So, about 14 ______ to complete the task.
Whereas the same action for a home without a cabinet door housing the plates would be as follows:
1) Reach for plate in cabinet.
2) Grasp plate.
3) Lift plate from cabinet.
4) Place plate on counter.
5) Release plate.
For a final score of, give or take, 5 _____ to complete the same task. A surprising savings. Admittedly it is prone to a bit of fuzzy math and logic. But anyway, that's the example I recall from the text.
What the hell is the name for that unit and (bonus) what book am I thinking of?
So, the example I recall the class going into, and when I say class I mean hippy-nutty-crunchy-crossover class between engineering and the arts college so the book in question could be way out in left field or a standard field text for this sort of thing, was cabinets.
To get a plate out of a cabinet in most homes it takes, something like, the following actions to complete:
1) Reach for cabinet door.
2) Grasp cabinet door handle.
3) Open cabinet door.
4) Release cabinet door handle.
5) Reach into cabinet.
6) Grasp plate.
7) Lift plate from cabinet.
8) Place plate on counter.
9) Release plate.
10) Reach for [open] cabinet door.
11) Grasp cabinet door handle.
12) Close cabinet door.
13) Release cabinet door handle.
14) Finish or, possibly, lower hand to plate.
So, about 14 ______ to complete the task.
Whereas the same action for a home without a cabinet door housing the plates would be as follows:
1) Reach for plate in cabinet.
2) Grasp plate.
3) Lift plate from cabinet.
4) Place plate on counter.
5) Release plate.
For a final score of, give or take, 5 _____ to complete the same task. A surprising savings. Admittedly it is prone to a bit of fuzzy math and logic. But anyway, that's the example I recall from the text.
What the hell is the name for that unit and (bonus) what book am I thinking of?
Best answer: Therblig, maybe? I just came across that in a memoir the other day, so not where you would have seen it.
posted by Stacey at 7:42 PM on October 19, 2014
posted by Stacey at 7:42 PM on October 19, 2014
Response by poster: *sigh*, I swear I googled this with all kinds of permutations of action, unit of measurement, and workflow before posting. All I got was managerial crap.
But yea, that's it. My sanity thanks you.
posted by RolandOfEld at 7:44 PM on October 19, 2014
But yea, that's it. My sanity thanks you.
posted by RolandOfEld at 7:44 PM on October 19, 2014
It's in Cheaper by the Dozen, BTW, by Frank Galbraith Jr and Ernestine Galbraith Carey. Frank Galbraith Sr was the motion study expert and creator of the Therblig, which is loosely Galbraith backwards.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 10:45 PM on October 19, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 10:45 PM on October 19, 2014 [2 favorites]
I always thought his name was Gilbreth which is much closer to Therblig :-)
posted by wrm at 12:18 AM on October 20, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by wrm at 12:18 AM on October 20, 2014 [2 favorites]
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posted by bluefrog at 7:41 PM on October 19, 2014 [2 favorites]