🔄 YESTERDAY RE-KNOCK: The 8-Boss System
Yesterday, we navigated through one of Taylor's most controversial yet brilliant techniques: Functional Foremanship. We saw how he divided the factory floor into Planning and Production departments, ensuring every worker is guided by 8 specialists. We also recognized how this technique boldly challenges Fayol's "Unity of Command." Today, we shift from the hierarchy of people to the quality of the product. We explore Standardisation and Simplification of Work—the secret behind why your favorite burger tastes the same in Ranchi as it does in New York!
Technique 2: Standardisation of Work
According to Taylor, standardisation refers to the process of setting standards for every business activity—right from raw materials and time to the final product. It is not just about the quality of the product; it is about the process of achieving that quality.
In my experience, standardisation is the reason big brands survive. Think of a Patna branch of a global pizza chain. The thickness of the crust, the amount of cheese, and even the temperature of the oven are "standardised." This ensures that no matter who the cook is, the outcome is predictable. Scientific management requires that these standards be established through constant research and analysis, not by a manager's whim.
Objectives of Standardisation:- Interchangeability: To ensure that manufactured parts or products are interchangeable (e.g., any battery of a certain size fits any remote of that same size).
- Quality Standards: To establish excellence in products so customers know exactly what to expect.
- Performance Standards: To set benchmarks for men and machines (e.g., how many units a machine should produce in an hour in a **Bokaro** steel mill).
Technique 3: Simplification of Work
While standardisation is about setting "high standards," simplification is about eliminating unnecessary diversity. It aims at doing away with unnecessary varieties, sizes, and dimensions of products.
In my experience, companies often make the mistake of producing too many variations of the same product. If a shoe factory in Siliguri produces 50 different types of shoes in 20 different sizes, it needs 50 different machines and 50 types of inventory. This leads to massive wastage of money and space. Simplification helps in cutting down these extra costs.
Simplification vs. Standardisation
Standardisation says: "Every blue shirt must have 7 buttons of 10mm."
Simplification says: "Stop making 50 different shades of blue shirts; just make 5 popular ones."
One focuses on quality and uniformity; the other focuses on reducing variety and waste.
- Reduced Inventory: Less money is tied up in stock.
- Economy in Machines: Fewer types of machines are needed, allowing for better maintenance and use.
- Increased Turnover: Faster production cycles.
- Labor Efficiency: Workers don't have to constantly switch between different types of tasks.
Consider a tea exporter in Siliguri. Originally, they packed tea in 250g, 255g, 260g, and 300g packets. This was a nightmare for inventory. By applying Simplification, they cut it down to just two sizes: 250g and 500g. This reduced the types of packaging machines needed and simplified the accounting process. That is Scientific Management in its purest form!
📝 Day 24: Quality & Variety Check
1. "Eliminating unnecessary varieties and sizes of products" refers to which technique?
a) Standardisation
b) Simplification
c) Method Study
d) Differential Piece Wage System
Click to view Answer
Correct Answer: (b) Simplification.
Logic: Simplification is specifically about reducing variety to save costs and effort.
2. Standardisation of work is done to achieve:
a) Interchangeability of parts
b) High inventory levels
c) More working hours for labor
d) Variety of product shades
Click to view Answer
Correct Answer: (a) Interchangeability of parts.
Logic: Standardisation ensures that products from different batches or machines are identical and can be swapped.
3. THE CASE STUDY:
(a) Technique: Simplification of Work. (The company needs to eliminate the 40 unnecessary sizes).
"Comfort-Sleep Ltd." in **Ranchi** manufactures mattresses. They currently have 45 different sizes of mattresses to suit every possible bed dimension. However, they found that 80% of their sales come from just 5 standard sizes. The cost of maintaining raw materials for the other 40 sizes is eating into their profits.
(a) Identify the Taylor’s technique the company should adopt to improve profits.
(b) State two benefits the company will receive from this move.
Click to view Master Solution
(b) Benefits:
Further Reading
- STUDY NOTE: Unit 2: Principles of Management - Detailed Note
- REVISION: Unit 2: Principles of Management - Revision Note
- DIRECT QUESTIONS: Unit 2: Important Direct Questions & Answers
Teaser for Tomorrow: We have fixed the quality and the variety. Now, let’s find the "One Best Way" to actually do the job. Tomorrow, we explore Method Study and Motion Study. We'll see how even the blink of an eye was timed by Taylor to boost efficiency in the factories of Patna and Bokaro!
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