Read the following passage and answer the question.

Mona is a production manager in a company. She wants to improve performance of shop floor level in the factory. For this, she takes many steps. She separates planning and execution functions and appoints planning in-charge and production in-charge under her subordination.

She eliminated superfluous varieties, sizes and dimensions of product lines. She keeps a continuous watch on body movements of workers of the factory and places them in three categories of productive, incidental and unproductive movements. She instructs workers to discontinue unproductive movements.

On the basis of a study, she decided the amount and frequency of rest intervals for workers.

All these steps gave positive result and factory production increased significantly in both quality and quantity teams.

'She eliminated superfluous varieties, sizes and dimensions of product lines'.

Identify the technique of scientific management highlighted in the above sentence.

Simplification of work

The correct answer is option (3)- Simplification of work.

The technique of scientific management highlighted in the sentence "She eliminated superfluous varieties, sizes, and dimensions of product lines" is Simplification of work.

Simplification aims at eliminating superfluous varieties, sizes and dimensions while standardisation implies devising new varieties instead of the existing ones. Simplification aims at eliminating unnecessary diversity of products. It results in savings of cost of labour, machines and tools. It implies reduced inventories, fuller utilisation of equipment and increasing turnover.

OTHER OPTIONS

• Motion study refers to the study of movements like lifting, putting objects, sitting and changing positions, etc., which are undertaken while doing a typical job. Unnecessary movements are sought to be eliminated so that it takes less time to complete the job efficiently. For example, Taylor and his associate Frank Gailberth were able to reduce motions in brick layering from 18 to just 5. Taylor demonstrated that productivity increased to about four times by this process.

• Fatigue Study- A person is bound to feel tired physically and mentally if she/he does not rest while working. The rest intervals will help one to regain stamina and work again with the same capacity. This will result in increased productivity. Fatigue study seeks to determine the amount and frequency of rest intervals in completing a task.

• Method Study- The objective of method study is to find out one best way of doing the job. There are various methods of doing the job. To determine the best way there are several parameters. Right from procurement of raw materials till the final product is delivered to the customer every activity is part of method study. Taylor devised the concept of assembly line by using method study. Ford Motor Company used this concept very successfully. Even now auto companies are using it. The objective of the whole exercise is to minimise the cost of production and maximise the quality and satisfaction of the customer. For this purpose many techniques like process charts and operations research etc are used. For designing a car, the assembly line production would entail deciding the sequence of operations, place for men, machines and raw materials etc. All this is part of method study.