The modus operandi of these cards or slips is as follows:
Each card or slip is devoted to but one gang and one ledger account—such, for example, as placing ties in railroad work, gang No. 6. It will show the foreman's name; the name or number, or both, of each man; and the amount of time that he spent on this particular class of work. The sum of the amounts for the gang on this classification, will be the cost for this gang and this account for the day in question.
If a man has been working at more than one piece of work on that day, the time-keeper makes the apportionment of time on the spot; and the portion of his time that he has spent placing ties is put on the "Placing Ties" card or slip. The remainder of his time is placed on another slip corresponding to the other ledger account. If the time-keeper is uncertain as to which ledger account the work belongs to, he writes a description of the work at the top of the card or slip. A convenient form for a slip is illustrated in Fig. 1; and a convenient form for a file card, in Fig. 2.
Fig. 2. Time-Keeper's Card.
Duplicate record is made automatically on similar card by carbon paper.
It is frequently of advantage to have time-cards show, in addition to their pay and work performed, a log of the conditions, such as temperature and weather; the causes and duration of each delay; the general conditions on the work; the kind, condition, and the make of tools, machinery, etc.; and any further details that may be important. How this can be done on the various cards illustrated in this volume, can be seen from a study of the illustrations.
Written Time-Cards have the advantage of the minimum of departure from existing methods; the disadvantages that arise are slight; and it is difficult to so arrange the cards as to obtain duplicates. A foreman with a dirty thumb will make a paper sheet on which he writes in the field look as if it had been dragged through the mud; while, with a punch, he can bring his card in with comparatively small damage. In general, it may be said that for the time-keeper's use the written card has a slight advantage over the punch-card; while the reverse is the case for records to be obtained by the foreman, or whenever the men, such as drillers or teamsters, hold their own cards.
A TYPICAL FOUNDRY FOR LARGE CASTINGS IN THE TORONTO, CAN., PLANT OF THE FAIRBANKS-MORSE COMPANY