SIMO Chart Analysis

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING is redesign (engineering) of Products, Facilities and Processes for Productivity increase.
Productivity Management Imperative for USA - McKinsey. Returning US productivity to its long-term trend of 2.2 percent annual growth would add $10 trillion in cumulative GDP over the next ten years (2023 - 2030).

INTRODUCTION TO MODERN INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING. E-Book FREE Download. 

https://academia.edu/103626052/INTRODUCTION_TO_MODERN_INDUSTRIAL_ENGINEERING_Version_3_0

Lesson 215 of Industrial Engineering FREE ONLINE Course.

Lesson 213: SIMO Chart Using Therbligs - Two Handed Chart for Micro-Motion Study

Motion Study Charts - Sub-Module

Lesson 212 Motion Study Charts - The Two-Handed Process Chart for Motion Study 

Lesson 213 SIMO Chart Using Therbligs - Two Handed Chart for Micro-Motion Study

Lesson 214 Motion Analysis - Two Handed Operation/Process Chart - Operator Motions Chart

Lesson 215 SIMO Chart Analysis

Lesson 216 More Charts and Diagrams - Human Effort Industrial Engineering

Adapted from Barnes treatment of the same.

Simo chart analysis is based questions regarding therbligs. SIMO is made using therbligs being undertaken by left hand and right hand (body parts in more general terms).

Motions - Therbligs

 

Select

 

• Is there an alternative workbench layout that reduces searching for articles?
• Can tools and materials be standardized and variety reduced? (Can combination tools be used?)
• Are parts and materials properly labeled?
• Are common parts interchangeable? Reduce variety of parts.
• Are parts and materials kept separate?
• is the lighting satisfactory to facilitate search?
• Can color be used to facilitate selecting parts?

See the 5S prescriptions in these analytical questions. The Japanese practice has now become popular in literature to reduce search especially in the context of setup time reduction. You can see it is an old principle and practice in industrial engineering.

 

Grasp

 

Is it possible to grasp more than one object at a time? (This question comes frequently instead of handling only one can we handle multiple items in a single instance?)

Can you use a sliding in place and grasping and carrying the part?

Is there a lip in front of the parts bin to facilitate gravity feed and ease of grasping?

Is prepositioning tools and materials simplify grasp?

Can any special tool facilitate easy grasp using tool?

Can magnetic force or vacuum be used advantageously?

Does the fixture help in easy grasp of the part after completing the operation?

Observe the focus on various items used at the work place in stead of the actual motion of the hand. It is important to improve many things in the work place to reduce motion time.

 

Transport Empty and Transport Loaded

 

• Can either of these motions be eliminated entirely?
• Is the distance traveled the best one?
• Are correct means used - tweezers, etc.?
• Are the correct members (and muscles) of the body used - fingers, forearm, shoulder etc.?

 

Hold

 

Can a vise, clamp, clip, vacuum, hook, rack, fixture, or other mechanical device be used?

When hold cannot be avoided, can arm rests be provided?

 

Release Load

 

Can this motion be eliminated?

 

Position

 

Is positioning necessary?

Can tolerances be increased?

Can a guide, funnel, bushing, gauge, stop, swinging bracket, locating pin, spring, drift,recess, key, pilot on screw, or chamfer be used for positioning?

Is the operator grasping the work piece for easiest positioning?

Can a foot operated collet be used?

 

Pre-position?

 

Can the object be pre-positioned in transit?

Can holding device be made to keep tool handle in proper position

Can tools be suspended?

Can tools be stored in proper location to work?

 

Inspect

 

Can inspect be eliminated or overlapped with another operation?

Can multiple gauges or tests be used?

Can machine inspection be used instead of manual inspection

 

Assemble, Disassemble, and Use

 

Can a jig or fixture be used?

Can stops be used?

Should a power tool be used?

Can a cam or air-operated fixture be used?

 

Some more questions are to be added especially regarding motions.

Please give your suggestions on more questions and analytical directions? If you analyzed a SIMO chart what are questions you used?

 

References

 

Barnes, Ralph M., Motion and Time Study: Design and Measurement of Work, Seventh Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1980, Chapter 14. The Use of Fundamental Hand Motions.