Final answer:
In a manufacturing environment, scientific management, as advocated by Frederick W. Taylor, includes performing time-motion studies to find efficiencies by adjusting assembly process steps to eliminate unnecessary actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a manufacturing environment, scientific management is demonstrated by doing time-motion studies of the steps in an assembly process to determine if efficiency can be gained by adjusting the way the steps are performed. Frederick W. Taylor, a mechanical engineer from Pennsylvania, championed this approach, arguing that a careful study of every aspect of the production processes could improve efficiency by eliminating unnecessary steps and wasted motions. This concept, sometimes called "stop-watch management," aimed at dividing manufacturing tasks into short, repetitive segments and encouraged factory owners to prioritize efficiency and profitability.
During the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, managers used the principles of scientific management to increase productivity by minimizing inefficiencies. Taylor's work, particularly as expressed in his 1911 book 'The Principles of Scientific Management,' became an influential guide for factory owners and managers who sought to optimize labor and machine function. Time-motion studies involved timing workers' movements to eliminate inefficiencies and speed up the production process. These analyses were crucial to standardizing work and checking the efficiency of not only the people but also the equipment involved in production.