An Interesting Question on Garment SAM Calculation and Use of Rating Factor

An OCS reader wrote me following mail. Go through it and try to find out how would you explain to him to solve his problem.

Garment SAM calculation

"I have a question about calculating SAM for an operation or a garment.

If you use the formula 

Basic time= Observed time * performance rating and use a higher performance rating the time taken for the operation is higher than if you took a lower performance rating that is lower.

For example. observed time is 10 minutes. with this - if the operator is at 100% performance then the operation's Basic time (SAM value) will be 10 minutes (10X1). But if an operator is at 50% performance (meaning half as efficient as an operator at 100% performance) for with the same average time for an operation then basic time is 5 (10 x 0.5)


Is this to mean that a lower operator performance will yield faster completion of garment making tasks? that seems counter intuitive to me. Please explain"

For a while, I also started thinking, how it is coming? A higher rated operator taking higher time than the low rated operator. I know it is not true. But where the problem lies in the above example? 

I answered him with the following explanation.

Don't worry. Just go through following explanation. You will find what is wrong in the above example.

You are going set standard time (SAM) of operation through time study. First, you need to calculate Basic Time. You need to level the observed time (cycle time) to get standard time. And levelling of time is done by multiplying Rating factor (performance rating). 

Formula: Basic time = Observed time X Rating 
(If we do not consider allowances, Basic time=standard time)

Example, You timed one operator and it is 10 minutes, you rate her 50%. As the operator's rating is less than 100%, she would take higher time than the standard time. And standard time would be lower than 10 minutes. Right? 

So you multiply rating with observed time to calculate basic time. And it is (10 * 50%) = 5 minutes. It means an operator who works at normal pace (no too fast or no too slow) should take 5 minute to complete this operation. For same operator, taking 10 minutes to compete that operation and you rate her 100%. Logically, it is not possible. Either you timed wrong or rate her incorrectly.

In reverse way, a 100% operator and a half efficient (50%) operator can not complete a task in same time (10 minutes). Your assumption is wrong in the above example.

Also read: How to use performance rating in calculating standard time?

Conclusion: 

A low-performance operator would take higher time to complete the given operation than a higher performance operator.

How would you explain the solution? Please add it into the comment box.

Prasanta Sarkar

Prasanta Sarkar is a textile engineer and a postgraduate in fashion technology from NIFT, New Delhi, India. He has authored 6 books in the field of garment manufacturing technology, garment business setup, and industrial engineering. He loves writing how-to guide articles in the fashion industry niche. He has been working in the apparel manufacturing industry since 2006. He has visited garment factories in many countries and implemented process improvement projects in numerous garment units in different continents including Asia, Europe, and South Africa. He is the founder and editor of the Online Clothing Study Blog.

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