Abstract
To survive head-to-head competition, we should keep our labor productivities above those of other nations. However, our labor productivities are low compared to those of the developed countries. It is the well-known fact that we make up for the productivities with long work hours. Entering the line of developed nations safely and enjoying well-being age freely, we need to achieve high labor productivities without sacrificing work hours. What would be a fine solution? Back to the basics! Although it is important to enforce R&D on high-tech products, we should have so-called bluebird philosophy, being faithful to the basics and trying to find solutions at a stone's throw. Basics of basics may be unceasing improvement, establishing reasonable standard times, and maintaining them. To support going back to the basics, this thesis proposes VITAMAX, a motion and time study software. As VITAMAX stands for "Visual Improvement and Time Analysis for Maximizing Profits", it provides a simple and powerful visual tool which is useful for improving manual works and determining standard times. Since VITAMAX is based on the Microsoft Excel and VBA, it is very cost-effective and easy to use. VITAMAX may contribute to the profit increase of manufacturing companies, especially for the small and medium-sized enterprise.