Time Study & Work Measurement Resource Center
For 70 years, CapRock Global Solutions and the Industrial Timestudy Institute, units of the CapRock Group have been helping organizations with work measurements and efficiency improvements.
This Resource Center brings together everything you need to build strong time studies, develop fair engineered labor standards, and drive meaningful productivity improvement.
Whether you’re just getting started with time studies or looking to strengthen your existing work measurement program, you’ll find practical guides, methodologies, tools, and real-world examples here.
How Time Studies Are Conducted
Conducting a time study involves structured preparation, careful observation, accurate data collection, and thoughtful analysis. While methods vary, professional studies generally follow these key phases:
- Planning and Preparation
- Observation and Data Collection
- Analysis and Calculation
- Reporting and Implementation
Need help planning or conducting a time study? Talk with our time study experts about your project.
Common Time Study Mistakes
Even experienced teams can undermine the value of a time study by making avoidable errors. Here are the most frequent mistakes and how to prevent them:
- Inadequate or Biased Sampling
- Poor or Missing Allowances
- Inconsistent or Biased Pace Rating
- Hawthorne Effect (Observer Influence)
- Treating Standards as Static
- Poor Communication and Lack of Worker Involvement
- Using Data Punitively
Avoiding these mistakes dramatically increases the credibility, accuracy, and long-term value of time study work.
Avoid costly mistakes that can undermine your results. Talk with our time study experts about building accurate, defensible labor standards.
What You’ll Find Here
Foundations of Time Studies
- What Is a Time Study?
- Time Study vs. Time and Motion Study
- History and Evolution of Time & Motion Studies
- How Time Studies Are Conducted
- Common Time Study Mistakes
Time Study Methods & Techniques
- Work Sampling vs Time Studies
- Traditional Time Studies
- Video-Based Time Studies
Engineered Labor Standards
- What Are Engineered Labor Standards?
- How Labor Standards Are Calculated
- Time Studies for Labor Planning
- Normal Time vs. Standard Time
- Understanding Allowances
- Performance Rating Methods
- Sample Size Calculations
Productivity Improvement & Lean
- How Productivity Is Measured
- Employee Utilization Metrics
- Workforce Productivity Benchmarks
- Productivity Improvement: A Practical Guide
- The 7 Wastes (TIMWOOD) Explained
- How Time Studies Support Lean Manufacturing
- Using Time Studies to Eliminate Bottlenecks
- Productivity Metrics That Matter
Industry Applications
- Time Studies in Manufacturing
- Time Studies in Healthcare
- Time Studies in Distribution & Warehousing
- Time Studies in Retail
- Time Studies in Government
- Time Studies in Field Service
Tools, Templates & Calculators
Case Studies by Industry
Manufacturing & Production
Manufacturing & Production
- $62 Million Productivity Gain: Food Manufacturer Eliminates a Shift Through Time Studies and Process Optimization
- Manufacturing Client Achieves Up to 32% Efficiency Gains Across Production Lines
Distribution & Warehousing
Field Service
- Utility Company Identifies $22 Million in Annual Savings Through Field Service Time Studies
- Field Service Provider Reduces Repeat Trips by 60% and Labor Force by 20%
Aviation & Technical Services
Healthcare & Diagnostics
Additional Case Studies
How This Content Is Organized
This Resource Center follows a clear structure:
- Foundations — Understand the basics and why time studies matter.
- Methods — Learn the different approaches and when to use each.
- Labor Standards — Turn time study data into usable, defensible standards.
- Productivity & Lean — Connect time studies to broader improvement efforts.
- Industry Applications — See how time studies are applied in specific sectors.
- Tools & Case Studies — Practical resources and proven results.
Everything here is designed to work together. Start with the Ultimate Guide to Time Studies and Work Measurement for the complete picture, then dive into specific topics using the articles and case studies above.
Why CapRock?
With more than 70 years of experience in work measurement and industrial engineering, CapRock and the Industrial Timestudy Institute, a unit of the CapRock brings a unique combination of deep expertise and practical application. We use both traditional stopwatch and video-based time studies choosing the right method for each situation rather than forcing every project into one approach.
Our goal is always to deliver accurate, fair, and sustainable standards that improve performance without creating unrealistic expectations.
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re looking to increase efficiency, reduce cost, improve workflow, develop or strengthen time studies and engineered labor standards in your organization, we can help.
Contact us to discuss your needs or learn more about our time study training, consulting, and implementation services.