Time Study Simulation Report
TASK 1 - Making a Cup of Tea
Brewing a cup of tea is a straightforward process that involves preparing hot water, steeping
tea, and serving the beverage. This report outlines the basic steps involved in making tea
using an electric kettle.
Task Steps
Gather materials
1 Collect items needed to make tea: a tea bag, a mug, and water. Optional additions
include any sweetener of your choice such as honey or sugar.
Fill the kettle
2 Pour water into the electric kettle. The amount of water depends on how many cups of
tea you plan to make.
Boil the water
3 Turn on the kettle to heat the water until it reaches a boil. This usually takes a few
minutes.
Prepare the mug
4 While the water is boiling, place the tea bag into the mug. Add the sweetener
(optional).
5 Once the water has boiled, carefully pour it into the mug over the tea.
Steep the Tea
6 Let the tea sit for a few minutes to develop its flavour. Allow the tea to steep for about
2-3 minutes or until the water turns into the right colour (e.g Black Tea should be
reddish brown or dark brown).
7 After steeping, remove the tea bag.
Stir and Serve
8
Mix the tea to combine any added ingredients and enjoy your drink
Time Recording / Observation (in seconds)
Cycle 1 Cycle 2 Cycle 3 Standard
Task Element Mean Time
Time Time Time Deviation
1. Gather materials
30 27 33 30 3
2. Fill and start the
kettle 45 42 48 45 3
3. Wait for the water
to boil 240 246 234 240 6
4. Place the tea bag
in the mug 6 7 6 6.33 0.58
5. Pour boiling water
12 11 13 12 1
6. Steep the tea
180 186 174 180 6
7. Remove the tea
bag and add extras 30 29 31 30 1
8. Stir and serve
9 10 9 9.33 0.58
Potential Challenges
Boiling time variability – The time it takes to boil water may vary based on the amount of
water used and the power rating of the kettle. The more water is inside the kettle, the longer it
may take to boil.
Preparation of Additives – Adding extras like milk, sugar, honey, or other sweeteners can
extend the preparation time, especially if measuring or mixing is involved.
Personal preferences and Steeping time sensitivity – The type of tea to be brewed
everyday depends on the time of the day and/or the type of food it is to be paired with. For
example, during nighttime I might opt to brew a cup of Chamomile Tea while I prefer to
drink Oolong Tea during brunch. Other types of tea have varying strengths, which can impact
how long it should be infused, affecting the steeping time.
TASK 2 – Washing the Dishes
Washing dishes involves cleaning various kitchen items such as plates, cups, cutlery, and
cooking utensils used during meals. The process starts by collecting all dirty dishes from the
dining table and kitchen, followed by removing food residue and large particles before
discarding them in the trash. The dishes are then rinsed under running water to remove any
leftover food scraps, after which they are organized by type (plates, glasses, cutlery) for
easier washing. Each item is scrubbed with soap and water to remove grease and residue,
then rinsed again to ensure thorough cleaning. Finally, the dishes are either air-dried on a
drying rack or manually dried with a towel, and the sink and surrounding areas are cleaned to
ensure the kitchen remains tidy.
Task Steps
Collect dirty dishes
1 Gather all dirty plates, cups, cutlery, and other items from the dining table and
kitchen.
2 Remove food residue from the dishes and throw into the trash.
Initial wash and set up area
3 Rinse the dishes under running water to remove food scraps and leftover residue.
Then, arrange items to be washed by type (plates, cutlery, glasses, etc.)
Wash the dishes
4
Scrub and wash each item with soap and water.
5 Rinse the dishes under running water to remove soap.
Dry the dishes
6
Put the dishes on the drying rack
Clean up the area
7
Clean the sink, wipe down surfaces, and remove any remaining soap.
Time Recording / Observation (in minutes)
Task Element Cycle 1 Cycle 2 Cycle 3 Mean Standard
(min) (min) (min) Time Deviation
(min) (min)
1. Collect dirty 1.60 0.92 1.58 1.37 0.32
dishes
2. Remove food 1.00 1.92 2.17 1.70 0.50
residue from the
dishes
3. Initial wash and 3.00 2.92 1.17 2.36 0.85
set up area
4. Wash the dishes 6.50 4.83 5.17 5.50 0.72
5. Rinse the dishes 2.42 1.83 2.17 2.14 0.24
6. Dry the dishes 0.60 1.83 2.19 1.54 0.69
7. Clean up the area 1.00 0.92 1.08 1.00 0.07
Potential Challenges
Number and variety of items
Different types of dishes (e.g., plates, cups, pots, utensils) may take varying amounts
of time to wash. Larger or more intricate items (like pots and pans) will take longer to
clean than smaller or simpler items. The more dishes there are to wash, the longer the
process will take, especially when washing by hand.
More people in a household means more dishes to be used and more dishes to be
washed, resulting in longer times to finish a task. This task was done in a in a two-
person household so there were only few dishes used and less time spent on the task.
Degree of Food Residue
Dishes with more food residue or stubborn stains (like grease, dried sauce, or sticky
substances) require additional scrubbing and longer washing time. If the dishes
haven't been scraped clean before washing or if food residue is difficult to remove, the
process will take longer. The need for pre-soaking or extra scraping will vary the total
washing time.
Type of Detergent and Sponge
The kind of dishwashing soap, sponge, or brush used can significantly impact the time
it takes to wash dishes. Some sponges or brushes are more effective, allowing for
quicker washing, while others may require more effort to scrub away food or grease.
In this task, I switch between a regular sponge and an abrasive sponge depending on
the type of item to be washed. Regular sponge for plates and abrasive sponge for pots
and/or pans.
Clean-up Time
After washing the dishes, cleaning the sink area and wiping down surfaces can take
additional time. If the workspace is cluttered or needs more attention, the overall task
duration will increase.
Discussion
Conducting a time study provides insight into how each step contributes to the total time
taken. Such analyses are beneficial for improving workflow and setting benchmarks but must
consider external and human factors that influence efficiency. Time studies help make tasks
more efficient by measuring how long it takes to do different steps of a job. By breaking the
task into smaller parts and timing each one, you can figure out which parts take the most time
and find ways to make them faster. This can help save time and make things work better. For
example, if you know it takes too long to do one part of a job, you can find ways to do it
more quickly, which helps everyone get more done in less time.
However, doing time studies in real-life situations can be tricky. Sometimes, the equipment or
tools may be different, or workers might have different skills, which can make the results
vary. There are also distractions, like people talking or things happening around you, that can
slow you down and affect how long a task takes. Plus, if workers know they are being timed,
they might feel nervous, which could make them work differently than usual. Also, focusing
only on speed can mean missing other important things, like doing the job well or staying
safe. So, it’s important to think about all these factors when trying to improve a process.
