Application of Scientific Management. 411 



bending a straight piece of wire with a machine which he operated 

 with his right hand had his pile of unbent wire on the right side 

 of his machine. Simply by putting the unbent wire on his left 

 side so that he did not have to reach across, his efficiency was in- 

 creased one-third. Wasteful ways of doing things like this may 

 involve either simple mechanical operations like that in the illus- 

 tration, or complicated mental processes. As an example of the 

 latter may be cited the effect of worrying about not having time 

 enough to complete the task in hand. This means that one is not 

 only trying to do the immediate task but reaching forward and 

 forecasting the difficulties of the next job. The essential thing 

 here as with the man making staples is to determine the simplest, 

 straightest, and most direct motions whether they be mechanical 

 or mental, eliminate all non-essential motions, and make the 

 straight line motions sub-conscious. 



In the determination of straight line methods the time study 

 and the motion study are very helpful. By careful analysis of 

 the different steps in an operation, and the timing of each step 

 wonderful improvements have been effected. One of the most 

 striking instances is that of Mr. Gilbreth's work in bricklaying. 

 He has succeeded in reducing the motions necessary to lay a brick 

 from eighteen to five per brick and increased the number of bricks 

 laid per man per hour from 120 to 350. 



Having determined the proper sequence of the time activities, 

 the best equipment, and the straight line methods, it is necessary 

 in order to insure continuous and rapid progress to have records 

 which will show what advances are being made. Such records are 

 especially valuable during the experimental stage because they 

 furnish the acid test by which the value of new methods can be 

 determined. They are, therefore, of permanent usefulness for 

 purposes of comparison because there are always new methods to 

 be tried out in a business or art which is keeping abreast of the 

 times. These progress records should show what is being done 

 and how and where it falls short of the ideal sought. To do this 

 concisely is often difficult and requires special study in each case 

 because of the variation in the aims desired. 



The fifth and last subject which needs to be investigated in ap- 

 plying scientific management to any art or business is the one in 

 which Mr. Tavlor and his associates have achieved such marked 



