Module 1: Productivity Foundation

5 days £1,235

This is a practical and very popular introduction to productivity. You will learn to recognise the symptoms of both low and improved productivity. We examine the structure of work measurement, looking in detail at a variety of formal techniques such as Time Study, Performance Rating and Rated Activity Sampling. We cover some principles of the practical application of work measurement data used for planning, costing, line balancing and estimating.

This course is the essential foundation to all three of the Module 2 options leading to the IMS Measurement Practitioner qualification.

Module 2a: Measurement Practitioner using
Time Study

5 days £1,235

This course requires IMS membership and should be taken only after Module 1 Productivity Foundation. This is a week of intense Time Study practical work leading to an external examination; the course involves arithmetical calculations and requires numeracy and logic.

Successful delegates who have attended Modules 1 and 2a are awarded the industry standard certificate, the IMS Measurement Practitioner using Time Study (formerly the IMS Time Study Practical). They also receive a Scott-Grant Performance Rating card, which is valid for one year; it can be re-certified via successful attendance on a Scott-Grant Performance Rating Clinic.

This Module can also be taken as a supplementary course by qualified IMS Measurement Practitioners who have completed Module 2b or 2c.

Module 2b: Measurement Practitioner using MOST^®

5 days £1,695

This course will train you in the MOST^® technique, giving you the ability to measure any human activity that has a defined method, using synthetic time data. MOST^® analysis shows what is done and how it’s done – accurate detail useful for virtually every business sector.

If you want to become a qualified IMS Measurement Practitioner using MOST^®, you will need to attend Module 1, Productivity Foundation first, then this Module 2b. Those who successfully complete the external examination will be registered with and awarded full Maynard (now Accenture) MOST^® certification, valid for four years. Renewal of your certification is via successful attendance on an appropriate Scott-Grant MOST^® re-certification course.

This Module can also be taken as a stand-alone course without an IMS qualification. Alternatively, it can be taken as a supplementary course by qualified IMS Measurement Practitioners who have already completed Module 2a or 2c.

MOST^® is a registered trademark of Accenture Global Services.

Module 2c: Measurement Practitioner using Activity Sampling

5 days £1,235

A new course which requires IMS membership. It has an external examination and should be taken only after Module 1 Productivity Foundation.

Activity Sampling is a work measurement technique with a number of formats in which observations are made over a period of time of one or several people, machine(s) or process(es). It is ideal to help determine utilisation, staffing levels, balanced work content and to observe activities with a view to improvement. Undertaken in the right way, Activity Sampling can also produce Standard times.

Successful delegates who have attended Modules 1 and 2c are awarded the industry standard certificate, the IMS Measurement Practitioner using Activity Sampling. This Module can also be taken as a supplementary course by qualified IMS Measurement Practitioners who have already completed Module 2a or 2b.

Module 3: Improving methods and processes

5 days £1,235

Good methods and processes are fundamental for meaningful time measures and capacities.

We cover systematic recording, examining and improving techniques, which help to challenge, simplify and combine activities, save time and cost and remove waste. Reinforced with a series of practical exercises, these approaches to improving methods and processes will enable you to view things differently and quickly make a significant impact in your workplace.

This course will inspire you to identify opportunities and implement improvements, often with little or no cost.

Module 4: Developing a Lean environment

5 days £1,235

Yours might be one of the many businesses under pressure to improve deliverables to customers with a streamlined operation at lower costs, so this is an ideal module for you.

We explain how Lean is about minimising or avoiding all forms of wasted resource: time, cost, materials, equipment or process capacity, knowledge, talent, information, space, energy, materials. Our course includes Lean principles and specific Lean techniques and approaches including 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Quicker Changeovers (SMED), all of which contribute to improving productivity.

Combining Lean with industrial engineering and work measurement approaches has considerable impact on productivity. This course will help you on your Lean journey.

MOST^® re-certification and update workshops

1 day refresher and re-certification, or 2 day workshop and re-certification

All those applying the MOST^® technique should be re-certified every four years with authentic certification from H B Maynard, now Accenture. We provide a one day brief refresher for experienced and regular MOST^® users prior to the examination. Over two days we can deliver a more thorough refresher workshop which is more suited to those who haven’t been regularly and recently applying MOST^®. In this workshop we can ensure your knowledge is accurate and up to date before you complete the examination. A pass mark of 85% is required for re-certification.

Time Study Refresher

3 day course with customised help

This is an essential process for anyone who is formally trained but hasn't recently applied the Time Study technique to ensure they are still maintaining accurate and professional standards. If successful, this will result in our refresher certification for Time Study. You will also be re-certified to apply Performance Rating to a qualified standard for the next 12 months, knowing that you have corrected any adverse trends.

We offer you customised help at our training centre in Manchester or at your own venue. The course cost will be determined by how much help you may need as a refresher. This course is only for those who have had prior formal training and experience in Time Study and Performance Rating.

Understanding and improving performance

A 2 day appreciation course £725

When you are responsible for activities using resources such as people, space and equipment, you will be accountable for their performance and cost. So how do you establish and manage existing performance levels, identify restricting factors and more importantly, determine and action the opportunities to improve?

We discuss ways of assessing the effective performance of resources. You will learn how to gauge individual performance and consider the many factors that cause waste and add cost.

The concept of work content and standard times, effective methods, Lean principles and standard performance will all be described and discussed.

Performance is often a consequence of decisions taken within a business, so this course will help you develop a better understanding of what you can do to influence higher performance, and recognise it’s not just about working harder. Time and Motion will take on a different meaning!

Performance Rating and Activity Sampling

A 2 day appreciation course £725

This is an introduction to the relevance of time standards in the pursuit of improved productivity. It is a particularly useful course for anyone whose role is impacted by the use of time standards.

You will learn the principles of Performance Rating and, through some practical exercises, appreciate the technique so that you understand the relevance of time taken then adjusted to get a measured target. We examine the type and structure of elements, breakpoints and frequencies.

We include some simple approaches to Activity Sampling to help you recognise different activities and categories of work or downtime.

We discuss the use of time data and performance calculations and identify things to watch for when used to plan capacities, staffing levels etc. Also, we discuss the implications of data that may not be sufficiently understood or correctly applied.

You will learn how the process of monitoring and assessing performance should point to causes of low or high performance.

Appreciating work measurement and performance

A 3 day appreciation course

In this in-company course we examine the structure of a Time Study, the relevance of elements, breakpoints, frequencies and Performance Rating.

Importantly, we discuss what considerations are needed when applying time standards and setting targets and how you assess the performance of individuals or equipment.

We discuss the use of time data and performance calculations and identify things to watch for when used to plan workloads, capacities, staffing levels etc. Also, we discuss the implications of using data that may not be sufficiently understood or correctly applied.

Performance is often a consequence of decisions taken within a business, so this course will help you develop a better understanding of what you can do to influence higher performance.