The final test of fatigue elimination, as of every other change made in doing things, is its influence upon the total output of “Happiness Minutes.” The aim of life is happiness, no matter how we differ as to what true happiness means. Fatigue elimination, starting as it does from a desire to conserve human life and to eliminate enormous waste, must increase “Happiness Minutes,” no matter what else it does, or it has failed in its fundamental aim. Have you reason to believe that your workers are really happier because of the work that you have done on fatigue study? Do they look happier, and say they are happier? Then your fatigue eliminating work has been worth while in the highest sense of the term, no matter what the financial outcome. Naturally the savings that accrue must benefit every one, but saving lies at the root of fatigue elimination, and, if every member of the organization, including the manager and the stockholders, is getting more “Happiness Minutes,” you surely are working along the right lines.
Fig. 32
Fig. 33
These pictures are of meetings of the Foreman’s Club at the New England Butt Co. examining films of methods of least fatigue, proposed for standardization.
Social “Happiness Minutes” will consist of the sum of the individual “Happiness Minutes” plus that intangible thing called “social spirit.” It is exemplified in a case like this: A certain group of workers had been studied from the motion study and the fatigue standpoint. The result of the work had been incorporated in their daily practice, and they had been working for a period of many months under the readjusted working conditions and with the new methods. At the end of this time they were gathered at a foremen’s meeting, where a micromotion film, showing the development of the methods which they used, was presented. In discussing the film the speaker took the occasion to say that on observing the work in the plant he felt that some lapses from the method prescribed were in existence. The next morning, when he walked through the plant, he was stopped by a worker, who said, “See here! I don’t believe we are falling away from that method a bit. If we are, just show us where, and we will go straight back to it. We want to play the game right.” This is the test of the outcome. Is the organization lined up as one man back of the work? If so, the problem of maintenance and of automatic improvement is solved.
Summary.
At any stage in the process of fatigue elimination the results may be tested. The general health of the worker, his prolonged activity, his posture, his behaviour act as such tests. To these may be added the amount of skill transferred and being transferred, and the effect, in particular, on “Happiness Minutes.” If the organization endorses the work and co-operates in it, the work may be rated successful.