{"id":10314,"date":"2025-02-13T13:29:38","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T12:29:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.mtm.org\/?p=10314"},"modified":"2025-02-13T13:38:52","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T12:38:52","slug":"additional-effort-is-calculable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.mtm.org\/?p=10314&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Additional effort is calculable"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Additional effort is calculable.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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TIME MANAGEMENT \u2013 Dangerous goods processes can be measured in time. And they have to be. Cost pressure in logistics requires an efficient and reliable basis for calculation.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t

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Everything can be calculated if you want it to be! But does this also apply to dangerous goods processes? The deployment times of employees play a particularly important role for logistics service providers. But is it possible to control the timing of dangerous goods processes and calculate the associated costs before a logistics service provider accepts a dangerous goods customer?<\/p>

Introduction: Cost pressure in logistics<\/strong><\/p>\n

Against the backdrop of increasing cost pressure in logistics, more and more companies are using time measurement methods to eliminate waste in their operations. As dangerous goods processes are an important and time-consuming part of logistics in some companies, time studies are required to assess the workload and additional costs of dangerous goods. However, logistics service providers often underestimate the time and cost involved. In order to remedy this and provide the contractor with a comprehensible basis for calculation, various time calculation methods are available; the REFA and MTM methods will be discussed here.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t

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Methods of time determination: REFA and MTM<\/strong><\/p>

One of the best-known methods of time determination is time recording according to REFA (determining target times by measuring and evaluating actual times with the help of a time recording device). Time recording according to REFA is therefore a method for evaluating the current situation in terms of time. It requires an existing work system. Another well-known method is time measurement according to MTM (Methods-Time Measurement). This is a method for analyzing work processes and determining planned and target times. MTM focuses on the TARGET situation, but can also determine the ACTUAL situation. It therefore offers a well-founded analysis as early as the planning phase, i.e. before the work system even exists. When planning new dangerous goods processes in particular, the logistics service provider can therefore describe all dangerous goods-related activities and evaluate them in terms of time before accepting a potential dangerous goods customer and implementing the processes.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t

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The MTM process building block systems<\/strong><\/p>

At the beginning of the 1940s, American ergonomists arranged the inventory of movement elements that make up manual activities into so-called basic movements. A scientifically proven and standardized time value was determined for each of these basic movements and compiled in the MTM 1 standard time value card (MTM basic system), which is still valid today. Later, a large number of other MTM process module systems were developed for use in various branches of industry and sectors. MTM – specifically the MTM-Logistics (MTM-LOG) process building block system – can also contribute to the design of productive and healthy work when considering logistics processes in which people are operationally involved. The MTM-LOG process building block system is based on the MTM-UAS (Universal Analysis System) basic processes, which have been combined into typical standard processes in logistics, such as picking, transporting, packing or checking. To analyze these typical processes, the data card for standard processes in logistics (SVL) should be used (see Figure 1, right). The SVL data card only covers a part of logistics activities, e.g. activities with industrial trucks and cranes, handling cartons, etc. For activities that fall under dangerous goods legislation, separate modules may need to be created with MTM-LOG and\/or MTM-UAS.<\/p>

Training for the correct use of MTM<\/strong><\/p>

Certified training in MTM-1 Base (one week) and MTM-LOG (one week) is required for the correct use of MTM-LOG. Without thorough training, the use of the MTM process modules will lead to incorrect analysis results. This is specifically pointed out on every MTM ASSOCIATION e. V. data card. Similar to the dangerous goods officer training, a minimum number of points is required for MTM training. However, 50 percent is not enough to pass. According to the training and examination regulations of the MTM ASSOCIATION e. V., 75% is required. Without knowledge of the MTM process language and the MTM-LOG building block system, however, it makes no sense to use them in practice. The following practical example should contribute to a better understanding and illustrate the concrete benefits of the MTM application.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Figure 1: Excerpt from the Standard Processes in Logistics (SVL) data card<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t
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Figure 2: MTM analysis: Labeling and packing of a shipping carton with UN 1263, color, 3, environmentally hazardous. The total MTM at the bottom of the form is 935.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Practical example: Labeling dangerous goods<\/strong><\/p>

A logistics service provider that does not usually pack dangerous goods would like to know how much extra work is involved in packing dangerous goods. The employee (packer) of the logistics service provider is to label a hazardous goods box with the \u201cHazard label sample no. 3\u201d and mark it with the labels for \u201cenvironmentally hazardous\u201d, \u201cUN 1263\u201d and two \u201calignment arrows\u201d. To do this, he reads on the computer which hazard labels and markings are to be affixed and picks up the hazard label and the markings on the roll one after the other. The employee sticks the labels on one side of the hazardous goods carton – with the exception of the alignment arrows, which must be attached on two opposite sides. Figure 3 on page 29 shows how this should look in practice.<\/p>

For the regularly instructed packer according to chapter 1.3 ADR, this is a completely normal and understandable work process. However, this information is not sufficient for the MTM time analysis. The MTM analyst who is to evaluate the activity in terms of time requires the following additional information, known as influencing variables:<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>