The effects of applying motion study, as productivity improvement technique, in an apparel company on business performance

Nowadays, with the rapid development of manufacturing, communications and information technology, corporations are trying to live in a global competitive environment by adapting themselves to rapidly changing environmental conditions. In this competitive environment, companies have to increase the competitive advantages to survive, to grow and to eliminate competitors. To increase competitive advantages, it is very important to measure and evaluate the factors that effects competitive advantages, in the other words business performance.Productivity, which increases the competitive advantage of firms, is one of the most important performance criteria. Productivity that is simply defined as output/ input, can be improved by increasing production quantity or reduction of production factors usage. Firms provide the cost reduction and increase of business profitability by productivity improvement. For this purpose, firms use various approaches and techniques to improve productivity.Method Study, which is one of the most important technique to improve productivity, is the subject of this study. Method study is a technique which is used to improve process, equipment design and work place plans, to develop more efficient production methods and better working conditions.In the first part of this study, the performance concept and the performance dimensions are emphasized. As an important performance dimension, the concept of productivity and its measurement have been investigated in details. In the second section the concept of method study, basic method and techniques are explained. An application of method study is fulfilled in the Sample Sewing Department of an apparel company and the effects of the application to efficiency and productivity, which are the dimensions of business performance, is researched.