Standard Minute Value (SMV) analysis quantifies the time required for a trained operator to complete a specific task at a defined level of performance. For example, attaching a button to a garment might have a standard minute value of 0.05, indicating it should take a trained worker 0.05 minutes (3 seconds) to perform this operation efficiently. This metric allows for accurate production planning, cost estimation, and efficiency tracking.
Accurate time measurement in manufacturing processes offers significant advantages. It enables realistic production targets, optimized line balancing, fair wage structures, and precise cost predictions. Historically, SMV analysis emerged as a critical tool in industries with standardized tasks, like garment manufacturing and assembly lines, to improve productivity and resource allocation. This focus on detailed time management facilitated substantial advancements in manufacturing efficiency and cost control throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.