What is a time study form?

A time study form is a type of spreadsheet used to keep track of the time spent working on the different tasks associated with a particular process. These forms are used in process improving methodologies, in order to establish baselines against which future performance tests can be compared.

In addition to establishing testing baselines, time study forms can be used to determine how resources are being spent. The results of a time study may show that highly-trained employees are spending a large amount of time completing tasks that can be carried out by a less skilled person. By quantifying this information, managers can shift their resources to maximize their utilization.