Work Simplification

Work Simplification

Work simplification is making work easier. According to Nickell and Dorsey (1959), “it is the conscious seeking of simplest, eas-iest and quickest method of doing work. ”It aims at accomplishing more work with limited amount of time and energy.

Home-making involves various types of activities which are most of the time tedious, monotonous, time consum-ing and involves various types of skill. Most of the work if done without much skill and under pressure would lead to unhappiness or frustration. To manage the house one should know the best way of doing each household activity. To do the work easily one should know why, how, when, who and where a work should be done.

Dr. Marvin Mundel (1985) has given five factors (classes of change) that influence the character of work. They are:

1. Change in hand and body motions

Work can be simplified by using each part of the body properly and economically.

This can be achieved by,

1.      Keeping body parts in alignment

2.      Using muscles effectively

3.      Doing the work in rhythmic motion

4.      Developing skill in work.

2. Change in equipment and work arrangement

Using labor saving devices, planning work surfaces at proper height, depth and width with proper tools and adequate storage space and lighting will improve the effi-ciency of work.

3. Change in production sequence

When there are lot of household activities to be accomplished, time and energy can be saved by simplifying the work through combining the tasks and eliminating unnecessary steps.

4. Change in finished product

Simplification of work could be achieved by changing the standards or expecta-tions of the finished product. Instead of laying a dining table in a formal way, espe-cially when the mother is working outside home, she can just keep food items on the table and members in the family can help themselves.

5. Change in material

This refers to the change in the raw ingre-dient to get the same final products. For example, instant Vada mix or Dosa mix can be used to prepare the same final product, at the same time requirement for pre-preparation of Vada or Dosa from raw materials can be reduced.