Synthetic demo data · not real footage / not real measurement
Annotate video

Motion Comparison Study

Motion Study · Method study + Time study Method study / Time studyMethod study finds the most efficient way to do a job; time study measures the standard time for that method. Together they are work study, the basis for this tool.

On a fast-churning floor, even a recorded video of a veteran's standard operation won't show a newcomer which step they fall behind on. This tool places the standard operation (expert) and the target operation (to improve) side by side, quantifies the gap element by element, flags wasted motion and out-of-order steps, and produces a comparison report you can act on. Skill transfer no longer rests on watching a video and guessing.

Single-station assembly: pick parts, position the PCB, drive screws, connect wiring, inspect, place the finished unit. The classic method-study case.

Standard operation (expert)
Target operation (to improve)

Synthetic demo clips · not live footage

Standard operation (expert)
0.0s / 24.0s
Compartmented bin
Workpiece / fixture
Tools
Finished goods
Reach for partAuxiliary motion
Target operation (to improve)
0.0s / 39.7s
Compartmented bin
Workpiece / fixture
Tools
Finished goods
Search for partIneffective motion

Motion timeline comparison

Effective Auxiliary Ineffective Deviation
Standard
Target
Drive screws ×4
Connect wiring
Search for part
Connect wiring
Drive screws ×4
Visual inspection
0s20s40s

Standard time Standard timeStandard time = observed time × rating × (1 + allowance). The time a trained operator needs to finish one piece at a normal pace with reasonable allowances.

29.8sec / piece

Observed 24.0s × rating 1.10 × (1 + allowance 13%)

Cycle comparison Cycle timeThe total time for one work cycle. The gap between the standard cycle and the target cycle is the room for improvement.

24.039.7sec

Target takes 15.7s more (+65%)

Motion-class breakdown Motion element (therblig)The smallest unit of motion analysis. This tool sorts them into three classes: effective (advances the work, e.g. position, assemble), auxiliary (necessary but adds no value, e.g. reach, grasp, inspect), and ineffective (pure waste, e.g. search, hold, hesitate, repeat) which improvement targets first.

Effective Auxiliary Ineffective
Standard
Target

Comparison report

Element-by-element comparison of standard vs. target, with deviations and countermeasures (unit: seconds).

Motion elementClassStandardTargetDiffDeviation / countermeasure
Reach for partAuxiliary1.21.4+0.2Meets standard
Grasp partAuxiliary0.81.0+0.2Meets standard
Move and position PCBEffective2.02.4+0.4
Slower
Drive screws ×4Effective12.016.0+4.0
Slower

Fix: Electric driver with preset torque to standardize fastening.

Connect wiringEffective4.05.0+1.0
Out of order

Fix: Follow the standard order: position and fasten first, then wire.

Visual inspectionAuxiliary2.53.0+0.5
Slower
Place finished unitAuxiliary1.51.6+0.1Meets standard
Search for partIneffective3.0+3.0
Extra motion

Fix: Switch the mixed bin to a compartmented bin so parts have fixed positions, eliminating search.

Hold fixtureIneffective2.5+2.5
Extra motion

Fix: Add a locating fixture to hold the workpiece so both hands are freed.

Re-align (rework)Ineffective1.8+1.8
Repeat

Fix: First-piece poka-yoke alignment to remove repeated re-alignment.

Hesitate / waitIneffective2.0+2.0
Hesitation

Fix: Work-sequence card plus pre-staged parts to remove hesitation.

ECRS improvement & verification ECRSThe four improvement principles in industrial engineering: Eliminate the unnecessary, Combine what can be done together, Rearrange the sequence, Simplify the method. Checking a countermeasure applies its principle and recomputes the improved cycle.

Check the countermeasures to apply and recompute the improved cycle in real time.

Before → after39.739.7sec

Saved 0.0s (0%), closing 0% of the gap to standard