What is Time Booking of Labor? Discuss the Methods used for Time Booking of Labor.

TIME BOOKING:

Under time-keeping methods we simply record the time spent by a worker in the factory. Such record does not show how that time was utilized by him i.e. how much time he spent on the jobs entrusted to him and for how much time he remained idle. Hence, in addition to recording his time of arrival and departure, it is also necessary to record the time he spent on each job, order or process. The system of maintaining such record is termed as ‘time booking’. In other words, time booking is a method of recording time devoted by a worker on a job, order or process.

Purpose of Time Booking.

• To assist in ascertaining the cost of a job, order or process performed.
• To check wastage of time by the worker after he enters the factory.
• To assess the cost of idle time.
• To ensure that the time spent by the worker in the factory has been properly utilized.

Methods of Time Booking.

The system of time booking may be maintained either manually or mechanically. In relatively bigger organizations, where a large number of laborers work, or where there is a wide variety of jobs being performed every day, Time Recording Clocks maybe used to enter the time of starting and finishing each job separately on the Job Cards.

The other methods of booking the time taken on separate jobs are:

Daily Time Sheets: This is a record for each worker separately in respect of time spent by him on each job during the day. Daily Time Sheets (also known as time cards) include details relating to:

• Name of the worker,
• Work Order Number,
• Description of Work,
• Quantity produced,
• Time of starting and finishing the job,
• Total hours consumed on the job,
• Rate of Wages per hour,
• Amount of wages.

Weekly Time Sheets: It contains similar details of the record of time for all jobs done by the workers during a complete week.

Job Cards: It is prepared for each operation to be carried out on every order. This helps in computing the exact time ascertaining how each worker utilized his time while h e was in the factory and enable the organization to reconcile the time spent by the worker on each job with the time paid as per the attendance record. Another advantage of these cards is that they provide complete record as to the labor content of each job so that the computation of labor cost is greatly facilitated. The difference between these two types of cards lies only in the form in which the analysis of worker’s time is recorded. In lime card the analysis of time is made with reference to each job.

The job card and time card are similar in respect of content and nature. Both ascertain how each worker utilized his time when he is at factory. They also facilitate reconciliation of time spent by the workers on each job with the time paid as per the attendance record. It provides complete record as to the labor content of each job so that the computation of labor cost is generally facilitated.

The difference between these two cards is that the manner of recording the analysis of workers time is distinct. In time card analysis of time is made with the reference to each worker whereas in job card the analysis of time is made with reference to each job. The specimen of both the cards will help you in understanding this difference.