Born in 1856 into a wealthy Philadelphia family, Fredrick W. Taylor

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Born in 1856 into a wealthy Philadelphia family, Taylor disappointed his parents by working in a metal products factory, first as a machinist and next as a foreman. Shocked at the factory's inefficiency, and the practice of its skilled workers of purposely working slowly. As an engineer he was more interested in the practical outcome and not the psychology Taylor proposed solutions that he believed would solve both problems.

 By studying the time it took each worker to complete a step, and by rearranging equipment, Taylor believed he could discover what an average worker could produce in optimum conditions. The promise of higher wages, he figured, would create added incentive for workers to exceed this "average" level. Taylor's time-and-motion studies offered a path away from the industrial wars of a century ago. Now what was needed was a way to apportion the wealth created by manufacturing enterprises. Taylor's answer sidestepped the class struggle and interest group politics.  

He believed his principles would create a partnership between manager and worker, based on an understanding of how jobs should be done and how workers are motivated. These workers are motivated by money. He believed a fairs day work deserved a fair day bonus. He thought keeping his workforce happy would keep them producing at a high quality. He died in 1915, whilst on a speaking tour in the mid west he contracted influenza, he was admitted to hospital and celebrated his 59th birthday there and died the next day.  

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Taylor’s method in practice

  • Pick a dozen skilled workers
  • Observe a workforce and note down the elements and sequences adapted in their tasks.
  • Time each element with a stopwatch.
  • Eliminate any factors, which appear to add nothing to the completion of the task.
  • Choose the quickest method discovered and fit them in their sequence
  • Teach the worker the sequence; do not allow any change from the set procedure.
  • Include time for rest and the result will be the “quickest and best ” method of the task.
  • Supervise workers to insure that these methods are carried out ...

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