Management Of Family Resources

Lesson 48 : Mundal's Classes Of Change

Class 1: Changes In Hand and Body Motion

In doing any activity we use many motions of body which are not at all needed. Focusing attention on how and which motions of the body can be eliminated is essential. Examples of this class of change can be noted in table setting, dish wash­ing or sweeping and mopping of floors. Proper and economic use of each part of body is important.

Motions:

There are seventeen basic work motions called Therbligs as defined by F.R. Gilbreth which can be identified and recorded by simple symbols, in any specific household activity.

F .R. Gilbreth and Lilian Gilbreth have also developed cer­tain principles of motion economy or aids to motion minded­ness. By observing these principles, in the arranging of equip­ment and establishing work methods helps to increase efficiency of the worker.

The worker who is motion minded is aware about needed motions and plans her work accordingly. She will arrange her work place so that most of her body is resting while both hands work rhythmically from right to left. She should be alert and take advantage of the available help, and avoid walk­ing back and forth.

The important principles of motion economy are summarized as follows:

1. Use both hands in unison.
2. Effective routing: arranging work place to reduce walking back and forth. Each job has three parts. Get ready, do, and clean up. Plan should be made ahead of time for each part in order to reduce total distance walked during the job.
3. In a repetitive job (e.g. dish washing or mopping of floor) using rhythmic motions of hand.
4. Using smaller movements of hand than large hand motions and arm motions, and using smooth movements than jerky ones whenever possible, e.g.-folding of clothes.
5. Take advantage of gravity. Motions, against gravity are slower than those with gravity (e.g. cutting down vege­table on a board than cutting them away in air). Pushing chopped vegetables into a bowl than scooping in hand and lifting into the bowl. Using proper postures while work­ing is also very important. This can be done by using what are known as principles of body mechanics.