140 PART II. SOME IMPORTANT METHODOLOGICAL TERMS. 



59. The plain man has been for ages occupied in wealth 

 production, and might be supposed to be a pastmaster in this 

 art. Yet the efficiency movement, inspired by science, puts to 

 shame his efforts in this domain. Here are some illustrations. 

 " We cite as an example a case of folding handkerchiefs. The 

 old method of folding was to have the worker seated at low 

 tables in chairs of ordinary height, working throughout the entire 

 day, with the only rest periods an hour at noon and such ceas- 

 ing from folding as took place when the workers went for 

 supplies, or took back finished product to be checked, or other 

 rest periods that they took at will, as the work was piece work. 

 After an intensive study of the problem, made not only to 

 increase their output but to better their working conditions and 

 allow them to earn more money with less fatigue, the following 

 schedule of work and rest periods was adopted. Each hour 

 was divided into ten periods. The work was placed on a work 

 table of the proper height. The handkerchiefs already folded, 

 those being folded, and those to be folded were arranged in the 

 most convenient and efficient manner. All variables of the work 

 had been studied, and the results of the study standardised. 

 The first four periods, that is, the first twenty-four minutes, 

 the girl remained seated. She worked five minutes and rested 

 one ; again worked five minutes and rested one. That is to say, 

 she had four minutes' rest out of the twenty-four, and spent 

 this rest seated so that she might lose no time in getting back 

 to the work. The next two periods, that is for twelve minutes, 

 the girl was standing. Again she worked five minutes and 

 rested one minute, and for the second time worked five minutes 

 and rested one minute. That is, she rested two out of the 

 twelve minutes in the same position in which she worked. The 

 third group, a space of eighteen minutes, she spent either sit- 

 ting or standing, as she pleased. Here also she worked five 

 minutes, rested one minute; worked five minutes, rested one 

 minute; worked five minutes, and rested one minute in the 

 position, either standing or sitting, which she herself had chosen. 

 The last period, which consisted also of six minutes, was spent 

 by the girl walking about and talking, or amusing herself as 

 she otherwise chose. With this might be combined the last 

 rest minute or period number nine, which thus gave her seven 

 consecutive minutes for unrestricted rest activity. This was the 

 schedule for all hours of the day except the hour before noon 

 and the hour before closing time at night. In these hours the 

 first nine periods resembled the first nine periods of the other 

 hours ; but the tenth period was spent in work, as a long rest 

 period was to follow. At the end of the day's work under 

 these conditions the girls accomplished more than three times 

 the amount of their previous best work, with a greater amount 

 of interest and with no more fatigue." (F.B. and L. M. Gilbreth, 

 Fatigue Study, 1919, pp. 127-129.) 



