course, be added to the total estimate of time required
as possible to verify the scope of the job against
available blueprints or other technical documentation.
to complete the job.
3. Find out what materials will be required, and
Checking on Materials
make sure they are available. If the specified materials
are not available, time may be lost while you try to find
Before starting a job, be sure that all the required
a satisfactory substitute.
materials will be available. This means not only the
correct kind of wood or metal for the job, but also
4. Find out what part of the job (if any) must be
whatever other materials may be required to finish the
done in other shops. It is important to consider not only
job, such as glue, dowels, nails, welding rod, rivets,
the time actually required by these other shops, but also
bolts, clips, and hinges. Ensure that all material used for
the time that may be lost if one of the shops holds up
the repair meets applicable specifications and are
the work of your shop. Never attempt to estimate the
verifiable.
time that will be required by other shops. Each shop
must make a separate estimate, and these estimates must
Estimating Time for a Job
be combined to obtain the final estimate.
Accuracy in estimating the required time for a
5. Consider all the interruptions that might cause
specific job is primarily a matter of experience. When
delay, over and above the time actually required for the
making a time estimate, you will compare the present
work itself. Such things as ship's drills, inspections,
problem with one you have solved in the past. An
field days, and working parties will affect the number
estimate, in a very real sense, is a guess, but it is an
of personnel that will be available to work on the job at
intelligent guess when based on the proper use of
any given time.
records and experience.
6. Next, try to estimate the time that will be
From time to time, you will probably be called
required for the work itself. Perhaps the best way to do
upon to give the estimate of the time that will be
this is to divide the total job into its various phases or
needed to complete a repair job. For most of the routine
steps that will have to be done. The time required for
jobs coming into the HT shop, a quick estimate made
each step depends partly on the nature of the job and
on the basis of your experience will probably be
sufficient. For urgent jobs, however, the time required
partly on the number of personnel available. You may
for completion may be an important consideration; and
find it helpful to draw a diagram or chart showing how
you should be very cautious in making these estimates.
many persons can be assigned to each step of the job,
The estimate(s) that you make may have an effect on
and how long each step is likely to take. Figure 2-2
shows a chart made up to estimate the total time
the operational schedule of a ship; therefore, it is
required to make certain repairs to a gangway.
important to consider all factors that might affect the
time required for the job.
The total job is divided up into nine phases or
steps:
The following steps are generally required to make
an accurate estimate of the time that will be required
A. Making the template. This step might take one
for a repair job.
person about 1 hour.
1. Study the job order and any blueprints or other
B. Obtaining metal fittings (treads and padeyes).
drawings that are applicable to determine the extent of
the job. For a repair job, inspect the damaged item to
This step might take one person about 1 hour.
determine whether or not it requires repairs or
C. Renewing one stringer and six treads. This step
replacements in addition to those specified in the job
order. In other words, the first thing to do is to get all
might take four people about 6 hours.
possible information about the job.
D. Sanding the surface and using wood filler. This
step might take two people about 2 hours.
2. Find out the priority of the job. If it has a lower
priority than some of the work already scheduled to be
E. Giving the first coat of varnish. This step might
done in the shop, you will not be able to start work
immediately. Any delay in starting the job must, of
take one person about 1 hour.
2-14