Relative to the information an the chart, consider the following. Each individual step is listed even though some steps may be of minor importance. The chart symbols and identification marks are the same as used in the operation process chart.
If single units are moved by hand, the distance moved may be of significant value because of the labor used. If movement is by mechanical conveyor, the distance may not materially influence labor requirement. A “V” following a distance indicates that it is vertical. The distance index for conveying to delay chamber indicates a total travel of 25 ft, there being a vertical lift of 10 ft. The distance moved is horizontal if no identifying index is used. Information concerning the direction and method of movement may be used for determining materials-handling design data.
The unit times will probably be important if distinct units of material are being processed,animals in an abattoir, small lots of vegetables in a community canning plant, a kettle of sorghum, or any batch process, for example. In cases of this kind, the time of each step is important since the arithmetical total is the total time required and the breakdown indicates steps that might be shortened. The unit times for continuous processes such as vegetable washers, seed cleaners,drum dehydrators, and walnut hullers are not so important. Since the events occur simultaneously, labor is usually not proportional to the individual times and inspections; delays and storages can occur without affecting the normal flow; the total of the times listed is not usually the total time required for a complete process. However, the total of the unit operation times and the unit transportation times is the total time required for the actual processing. The individual values are important in determining the time the material is subjected to an event, whether certain operations are performing at peak capacity , and, eventually, what can be done to adjust difficulties due to rate of movement.