ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the impact of work study on management for the productivity of manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The type of work study techniques used to evaluate management for the productivity performance of manufacturing SMEs were method study and work measurement, respectively. The intention of this chapter was to determine the relationship between the two concepts. For work study to be useful in terms of method study in the manufacturing process of manufacturing SMEs, work study experts should persuade management to be involved in method study tools such as benchmarking, brainstorming, preliminary surveys, charts, flow diagrams, filming techniques, value stream mapping, and cause-and-effect diagrams, as well business process reengineering.
Other work measurement techniques should also be considered, such as benchmarking, brainstorming, preliminary surveys, time study, activity sampling, synthesis, predetermined motion time systems, standards, value stream mapping, statistical process control, and business process reengineering. The research emphasized that when method study and work measurement are encouraged in terms of the manufacturing capabilities exercised by operation managers, including management on the technical side, the productivity of manufacturing SMEs will continue to improve.
Finally, the chapter concludes by focusing on management challenges facing the productivity of companies located in Gauteng, South Africa.
