Why measure the time taken to complete tasks?

Establishing standard time for tasks involves setting estimated durations for completing specific tasks or operations. This process helps in better planning and monitoring personnel performance. By knowing the normative times, businesses can improve task scheduling, reduce lead times, and monitor the effectiveness of working time. Standard time settings are typically based on regular measurements of task completion durations within the company, focusing on high time-consumption and repeatable tasks, such as retooling. This leads to more accurate cost calculations and overall increased productivity.

Measuring task completion time in maintenance operations aims to achieve several goals:

• Detailed Cost Calculation: Accurate measurement of task durations helps in precise cost estimation for maintenance activities.
• Effectiveness Monitoring: Tracking the effectiveness of working time allows for better assessment of employee performance and operational efficiency.
• Improved Planning: Setting prescriptive times for tasks enhances planning accuracy and resource allocation.
• Reduced Lead Times: Identifying and eliminating time inefficiencies leads to shorter task completion times and improved workflow.

A CMMS system supports time measurement by allowing manual entry of task durations or using a stopwatch function. The collected data is displayed comprehensively or broken down by individual team members’ times. By generating working time reports for specific specialists and tracking task durations, a CMMS system enables detailed analysis of the gathered data. This analysis helps identify inefficiencies, optimize resource allocation, and improve overall maintenance efficiency. The insights gained from time measurement contribute to more accurate planning and enhanced productivity in maintenance operations.