The Deutsche MTM-Vereinigung e. V. opens a new chapter in its history as a non-profit industrial association: In May of this year, the general meeting unanimously decided to change the name of the Deutsche MTM-Vereinigung e. V. to MTM ASSOCIATION e. V.

 

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IMD Spring Meeting in Istanbul

Strengthening the role of the worldwide IMD network

The IMD (International MTM Directorate) within the MTM global network adopted the organizational measures for the future at its spring meeting in Istanbul on 17 May.

Representatives from 14 nations unanimously elected an extended management committee. Dr. Hans Fischer, the former President of the German MTM Association, was confirmed in his office as President of the IMD. Vice-President Chester Dobrowski (US/Canada) received a vote of confidence from the delegates too.

Following a change to the rules, the management committee was expanded to include a second Vice-President. Guillaume Lachevre, who represents the French MTM Association, was elected to this position. The Executive Director manages the operating business of the IMD. Gabriele Caragnano from the Italian MTM Association was elected to this position for the fifth time in succession. He has played a major role in the work of the IMD during the past decade.

The position of Technical Coordinator on the IMD was revived. Different working groups handled these tasks in the past and Dr. Liesbeth Sackewitz, lecturer and academy head of the German MTM Association, played a part here. The strong development in terms of subject matter, e.g. with the EAWS (Ergonomic Assessment Work Sheet) tool, and international growth mean that greater specialist coordination is necessary.

MTM is aiming to provide support, particularly to young associations on technical issues involving theory and application. The brand new Managing Director of the Institute of the German MTM Association, Prof. Dr. Peter Kuhlang, was willing to take on this role.

Dr. Knut Kille, Managing Director of the German MTM Association, said that these people would also strengthen the role of the MTM Institute within the international network. He expressed his hope that all the new and re-elected officials would experience great success in handling the tasks that they face. The inclusion of Guillaume Lachevre and Peter Kuhlang on the committees is preparing the way for a generation change: Hans Fischer and Chester Dobrowski both announced that they were standing for office for the last time.

 

Turkey accepted into the IMD

The global MTM network is growing too. The Turkish team organized its first MTM conference on the premises of TAYSAD, an association of Turkish automobile suppliers, to coincide with the IMD meeting. About 100 participants discovered more about MTM as a method and organization and the IMD as its international umbrella association. Specialist lectures covered issues like “MTM as a process language”, “MTM and ergonomics” and “MTM & lean.”

Turkey was welcomed as a fully-fledged association during the IMD meeting; as a result, the IMD now has 15 members.

Bulgaria was co-opted as a so-called chapter (a national association in the making) with the support of the Austria MTM Association. Three other countries have been active in the market place for several years and are about to be accepted as full associations: the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg), China and Portugal.

The following countries have indicated their interest in establishing MTM. Existing national associations already act at patrons and are supporting this development:

  • The Maghreb countries (Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco) (supported by France)
  • South Korea (supported by Germany)
  • Serbia (supported by Italy)
  • France and Great Britain also have contacts with Malaysia and Singapore.

The important issues discussed at the IMD included the international standardization and expansion of the training program and the idea of an IE Handbook in English. The next IMD conference will take place in Birmingham on 1 November 2014 in conjunction with the celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the British MTM Association.

 

MEK Training now available in South Africa

It is a pleasure to announce that we now have three local instructors available for MEK training. MTM-MEK, is designed for economical measurement of small lot or one-of-a-kind production, with long-cycle times, as well as other infrequently performed tasks previously considered too costly or difficult to measure.

MEK is a synthetic system of measuring manual work based on MTM 1. It is referred to as a third generation and It was developed in the late 1970’s, by the member companies of the German & Swiss National MTM associations and by the Austrian MTM Group and an official International Methods Time Measurement Directorate system.

Uses

It enables establishment of times for manual work, where the characteristics of small batch or one of a kind production volumes are met. Description of the method is identified in the technique although the detail reflects the lesser degree of importance to minor method variation, inherent in the organisation of such production volumes. It is therefore a tool which enables identification of method as well as the times required to perform the tasks.

Simplicity

The technique is based on the predominant hand, as with UAS, rather than the 2 handed analyses which the MTM1 and MTM 2 systems employ. The system includes both Level 1 codes and also Level 2 codes which are data Blocks formed from the Level 1 codes. It produces times which reflect a representative method for carrying out tasks, rather than the precise method analyses of MTM1 or MTM 2.

Speed of application

The principle of Activity sequences make this technique much faster to apply than 1st or 2nd generation systems and is faster still to apply than UAS.

Application areas

The system is designed to meet the characteristics of one of a kind or very small batch production. The choice as to which system to use must be made with consideration of the method level required and of the degree of accuracy required of the data produced by use of the system. It includes repetitive activities that make it especially suited to manufacturing work areas.
Please contact our office for more information.