Man-Hour Activity: Man-Hour Activity: Paper Step-Through Paper Step-Through

InstructionsInstructionsPowerPoint Presentation By:PowerPoint Presentation By:

Alyson Pittman & Dr. Frank FlandersAlyson Pittman & Dr. Frank Flanders

CTAE Resource Network, July 2009CTAE Resource Network, July 2009

PurposePurpose

The purpose of this activity The purpose of this activity is to learn to estimate and is to learn to estimate and gauge man-hours of work gauge man-hours of work utilizing a simple and fun utilizing a simple and fun activity.activity.

Man-HourMan-Hour

A man-hour is the amount of A man-hour is the amount of work that can be done by one work that can be done by one person in one hour. person in one hour.

It is also a time unit used for It is also a time unit used for measuring work. measuring work.

DirectionsDirections In this activity you will pass your body In this activity you will pass your body

through a single sheet of paper. through a single sheet of paper. Estimate the number of man-hours it will Estimate the number of man-hours it will

take to complete the activity on the chart take to complete the activity on the chart provided. Remember to multiply the provided. Remember to multiply the number of man-hours per person by the number of man-hours per person by the number of people in your group to find the number of people in your group to find the total man-hours. total man-hours.

Use the directions provided to cut the Use the directions provided to cut the paper. Then compare your actual time to paper. Then compare your actual time to your estimated time. your estimated time.

Adjust your estimate accordingly and Adjust your estimate accordingly and complete the activity again. complete the activity again.

Directions Directions (continued)(continued)

For illustration purposes, suppose the For illustration purposes, suppose the paper step-through is a product that paper step-through is a product that your company produces and your company produces and consumers will purchase. consumers will purchase.

The time it takes to produce the The time it takes to produce the product is very important to making product is very important to making a profit as well as keeping labor costs a profit as well as keeping labor costs down. Companies want to produce a down. Companies want to produce a quality product at a low cost to quality product at a low cost to attract consumers. attract consumers.

MaterialsMaterials

1 sheet of copy paper per 1 sheet of copy paper per groupgroup

1 pair of scissors per group1 pair of scissors per group

Step 1Step 1

Fold the piece Fold the piece of paper in of paper in half, half, “hamburger” “hamburger” style, top to style, top to bottom.bottom.

Step 2Step 2

Beginning Beginning approximately a approximately a half inch from the half inch from the edge of the paper, edge of the paper, cut from the fold cut from the fold to the end of the to the end of the paper, stopping paper, stopping about an inch from about an inch from the end. DO NOT the end. DO NOT cut all the way to cut all the way to the edge.the edge.

Step 3Step 3

Make another Make another cut cut approximately a approximately a half inch from half inch from the first cut, this the first cut, this time stopping time stopping approximately approximately 1.5 inches from 1.5 inches from the edge. the edge.

Step 4Step 4

Continue alternating Continue alternating these cuts until you these cuts until you reach the other end reach the other end of the paper. End on of the paper. End on a long cut, about an a long cut, about an inch from the end of inch from the end of the paper. the paper. Remember to Remember to alternate between alternate between cuts that end 1 inch cuts that end 1 inch from the top edge from the top edge and 1.5 inches from and 1.5 inches from the top edge.the top edge.

Step 5Step 5

Unfold the Paper. Unfold the Paper. Starting on one Starting on one side, cut from the side, cut from the top of the first long top of the first long cut to the top of cut to the top of the second long the second long cut, separating it cut, separating it from the bar at the from the bar at the top.top.

Step 6Step 6

Repeat this step, Repeat this step, cutting from the cutting from the third long cut to third long cut to the fourth. the fourth. Continue doing Continue doing this until you this until you reach the last reach the last long cut.long cut.

Step 7Step 7

Perform the same Perform the same process on the process on the other side of the other side of the paper, but this paper, but this time cut between time cut between the second and the second and third long cuts, third long cuts, the fourth and the fourth and fifth, etc. fifth, etc.

Step 8 Step 8

On both sides of On both sides of the paper, cut the paper, cut from the edge of from the edge of the paper to the the paper to the shorter cuts you shorter cuts you made earlier. made earlier.

Step 9Step 9

Unfold the paper Unfold the paper and have each and have each person step person step through the hoop through the hoop you have just you have just created. created.

Optional ActivityOptional Activity

Once you have completed the Once you have completed the activity, see which group can make activity, see which group can make the largest ring possible or which the largest ring possible or which group can make the ring in the group can make the ring in the fastest time. fastest time.

ReviewReview

How many man-hours did it take to How many man-hours did it take to make the paper step-through ring?make the paper step-through ring?

Was everyone in your group Was everyone in your group productive at all times?productive at all times?

How can the process of making the How can the process of making the paper step-through ring be paper step-through ring be accelerated?accelerated?

SummarySummary

A man-hour is a measurement of A man-hour is a measurement of work. It is the unit of work one person work. It is the unit of work one person can complete in one hour.can complete in one hour.

Every business must be diligent in Every business must be diligent in keeping workers productive to be keeping workers productive to be profitable.profitable.

Estimating work in man-hours is an Estimating work in man-hours is an important job skill, especially for important job skill, especially for those who bid for jobs and those in those who bid for jobs and those in personnel management.personnel management.