The One Best Way Frank and Lillian Gilbreth

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The One Best WayFrank and Lillian Gilbreth

• Troy D. Bethards

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Who Influenced the Gilbreths?

• Fredrick Taylor
• E.J. Marey
• Adam Smith
• Charles Babbage

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What Influenced the Gilbreths?

• Electric availability
• Advancements in manufacturing technology

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Manufacturing Technology

• Changed the following
• Managements presence
• Pay issues
• Working conditions
• Labor problems

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Gilbreths Contributions to Management Theory

• Drifting process
• Motion study
• Analyzing an activity into its smallest
  possible elements, and from the results
  synthesizing a method of performing the activity
  that shall be more efficient.
• --Frank Gilbreth

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Gilbreths Study of Motion

• Doctors
• Disabled persons
• Baseball players
• Golfers
• Brick layers
• Homemakers

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Gilbreths Main Goals in Working with Companies

• Increase efficiency by removing unnecessary
  movements
• Reduce fatigue for employees

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Gilbreths Contributions to Management

• Employer and employee must cooperate in the work
  process for benefits to occur.

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Positions Employees Occupy in the Organization

• The job he had the teacher
• The job he has the teacher learner
• The job he will have the learner

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Gilbreths Contributions to Management Theory

• Frank and Lillian integrated science into
  management by
• Proper planning
• Gathering
• Arranging
• Systematizing information

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Gilbreths Methods of Data Collection

• Pictures
• Motion pictures
• Cyclographs
• Chronocyclographs

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Gilbeths Methods of Analyzing Data

• Therbligs
• System developed to analyze the basic movements
  of the body.
• Simo chart (Simultaneous motion chart)

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Therblig Groupings

• Effective classifications
• Physical basic divisions
• Reach
• Move
• Grasp
• Release
• Preposition

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Therblig Groupings

• Effective classifications
• Objective Basic Divisions
• Use
• Assemble
• Disassemble

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Therblig Groupings

• Ineffective classifications
• Mental or semimental basic divisions
• Search
• Select
• Position
• Inspect
• Plan

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Therblig Groupings

• Ineffective classifications
• Delay
• Unavoidable delay
• Avoidable delay
• Rest to overcome fatigue
• Hold

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Gilbreths Contribution to Management Theory

• Items to determine the one best way
• Motion study
• Fatigue study
• Skill study
• Time study

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Gilbreths Contributions to Management Theory

• Skill study The best way of acquiring or
  transferring a skill.

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Gilbreths Contributions to Management Theory

• Three steps to improving the teaching process
• Determine the most effective way to do the work
• In the shortest time possible, convey the best
  way to do a task
• Use a presentation method that will be remembered
  the longest

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Criticisms of Gilbreths Work

• Skill is required for some therblig movements
• Too many variables to establish one best way
• Therbligs do not fully explain the movement

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Criticisms of Gilbreths Work

• Not necessarily good to standardize everything
• Consider human element in work
• Motion study can be frustrating