Some effects of interruption on elemental motion times

Abstract

In this thesis, intermittent interference with pseudorepetitive operations is investigated to determine the effect of interruption on the task of performing a sequence of motions. And to give the generality, various conditions of work environment which are prevalent in industry are simultaneously analyzed. As a result, it is found that interruption effects in the pseudorepetitive work are not of one``s own properties, but variable properties according to working conditions or layouts of workplace. Therefore, for this experiment, elemental motion times are not random variables which could be added in any sequences without regard for the interaction between the elements. This result suggests the doubt to the validity of PTS (Predetermined Time Standard). From this viewpoint, the underlying assumption of PTS is questionable, and it would be better to focus our attentions to the development of ideal workplace or to the construction of factors that reduce the interruption effect, especially under the psychological basis.