The Principles of Scientific Management

Taylor's book is the root of the engineered labor standards and productivity tracking used in nearly every large warehouse today. Its best-known example describes a Bethlehem Steel worker Taylor called Schmidt, who was trained to carry pig iron at a set pace with planned rest, raising his daily load from about 12.5 tons to 47.5 tons for about 60 percent more pay. Historians have since questioned how accurately Taylor told that story. Units per hour targets, time standards for picking and packing, and labor management systems all apply Taylor's methods, along with the same debates over pace, fairness, and worker safety.

• Units per HourUPHUnits handled in one labor hour
• Labor Management SystemLMSSoftware that tracks warehouse labor
• ThroughputWork completed per hour or per day

• Frederick Winslow Taylor1856–1915 · Father of scientific management
• Frank Gilbreth1868–1924 · Pioneer of motion study
• Henry Gantt1861–1919 · Creator of the Gantt chart

• Ford Moving Assembly Line1913 · Ford moves cars past workers at fixed stations

1. The Principles of Scientific Management britannica.com
2. Frederick W. Taylor britannica.com