Memo motion

Memo motion or spaced-shot photography is a tool of time and motion study that analyzes long operations by using a camera. It was developed 1946 by Marvin E. Mundel at Purdue University, who was first to save film material while planning studies on kitchen work.

Mundel published the method in 1947 with several studies in his textbook Systematic Motion and time study.^[1] A study showed the following advantages of Memo-Motion in regard to other forms of time and motion study:^[2]

1. Single operator repetition work ...
2. Aerea studies, the study of a group of men or machines.
3. Team studies.
4. Utilisation studies.
5. Work measurement.

As a versatile tool of work study it was used in the US to some extent, but rarely in Europe and other industrial countries mainly because of difficulties procuring the required cameras. Today Memo-Motion could have a comeback because more and more workplaces have conditions which it can explore.

Scottish motion study pioneer, Anne Gillespie Shaw, used Memomotion in a number of films commissioned from her company, The Anne Shaw Organisation, for commercial and public sector organisations.

References

1. Mundel, Marvin Everett: Systematic Motion and time study : improving productivity. Englewood Cliffs, N. J.: Prentice Hall, 1946. The book became a standard und was published by David Danner (ed.) as Motion and time study : improving productivity. in 7th ed. 1994 with ISBN 0-13-588369-5.
2. Norbury, Clifford J.: The Application of Memo-Motion to Industrial Operations. Cranfield : College of Aeronautics, 1954.