What are ways to improve time and motion in making up a bed?

Answer 1

This is a well phrased question that should be in Industrial Engineering. But there is always an optimum set of procedures for virtually any task. The first step is to realize that.

Things to consider:

• The need to make the bed or not,
• the size of the bed,
• the location of the bed, (against zero, one or two walls)
• are there any obstructions, (end tables, animal beds, floor lamps)
• the quantity of mattress coverings, (sheet(s), blankets, comforter etc.)
• the materials used for the coverings, (silk vs corduroy)
• how many pillows,
• do you use shams or not, (are there an extra set of pillows that stay in the shams)
• does someone always kick out the sheets or kick off the blankets,
• do you use "hospital corners" for the sheets and or blankets,
• how tall you are and the reach you have,

Answers these questions, for your situation, and then add in any of your own variables. But just knowing all the variables makes the answer easier. Use a piece of paper and start listing ways to get this task accomplished, when your list covers all the items; start another list and finally count the steps of each list.

Take the lists and measure the distances from one step to the next, add the distances and use the one that has the least distances to travel. The results will be close to the optimal but add in the energy it takes to accomplish each step.

Have fun with the problem, you are on your way to understanding one of the jobs of an Industrial Engineer.