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We dig into how MTM turns micro motions into fair, consistent time standards with ReThink Productivity’s Simon Woodfield and Ed Thompson and when to use MTM1, MTM2, or UAS for different kinds of work. We share how video, TMUs, and peer review remove bias and help teams set reliable, safe methods.

• MTM motion categories and why they matter
• Video-based analysis for repeatability and detail
• Differences between MTM1, MTM2, and UAS
• Choosing the right system for cycle length
• How motion rules remove subjectivity
• TMUs explained and conversion to seconds
• Practical coding tips and peer review
• Coding the intended method for safety and quality

 Find out more at the UKMTM Website

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Hear directly from our experts—Sue, Simon, & James—who share real-world trends, new data findings, and actionable productivity insights 

In this episode they discuss why parcel pickup times vary from 27 seconds to three minutes on average and show how storage design, retrieval systems, and colleague headsets drive speed, safety, and sales. The chat covers the sales uplift from parcel traffic, the strain of returns, and how lockers and paid returns could shift behaviour this year.

• Wait time trends and the drivers of delay
• Best-in-class setup for retrieval and storage
• Store factors that create parcel hotspots
• Basket uplift and the halo beyond the collection
• Handling returns without blocking operations
• Staffing models, headsets, and pickup points

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We unpack Method Time Measurement (MTM) with ReThink Productivity’s Simon Woodfield and Ed Thompson, from its 1940s roots to modern use with motion capture and VR. The chat explains how MTM coding works, and why fair, consistent standards matter.

• Origins of MTM
• Motion codes, influence factors and TMUs explained
• When to use MTM versus a stopwatch
• Hybrid approaches for fixed steps and variable customer moments
• Training pathways and the main MTM variants
• Building quick business cases with what‑if scenarios
• Leveraging CAD, VR and motion capture for pre‑build timing
• Ergonomic insights alongside time standards

 Find out more at the UKMTM Website

We just wanted to remind everybody that as of 1st January 2026, the UK MTM Association is now part of ReThink Productivity

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Building on the success of footfall insights we broaden the conversation with the Basket & Barometer podcast. Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat

We dig into why Black Friday footfall held up while November spending slumped, and what that split means for December. We talk inflation turning to deflation in fashion and furniture, caution on inventory, and the ripple effects that hit suppliers when retailers stumble.

• Footfall marginally down on Black Friday day, week up 1.1% year on year
• November spend down 7% in towns and cities, steepest since July
• Budget jitters and weather weighing on sentiment
• Christmas timing supports a late pre‑holiday push
• December growth outlook moved from +1.5% to flat
• BRC: food drives growth, non‑food barely moves
• Inventory discipline favours sell‑through over deep January markdowns
• Fashion and furniture show deflation amid heavy discounting
• Employment and housing trends dampen big‑ticket demand

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Hear directly from our experts—Sue, Simon, & James—who share real-world trends, new data findings, and actionable productivity insights 

We unpack the wage rise headlines and the quiet costs they trigger up the ladder, then move to peak‑time realities: queues, break timing, and the real use of self‑checkout. We finish with fast wins in quick‑serve layouts and why adoption fails without hands‑on coaching.

• Wage increases by age bands and implications for costs
• Compression of supervisory pay differentials
• Leaders pulled into front‑line tasks reducing leadership capacity
• Queues at peak despite self‑checkout availability
• Break timing clashing with customer demand
• Micro‑improvements in quick‑serve cycle times
• Layout tweaks, tool placement, and motion design
• Training and engagement to adopt new kit and processes

Keep an eye out for those queues at peak, everybody listening, and see if you can identify the issues, we'll be back in the new year

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We gave NotebookLM our record breaking blog to see what happened when they turned it into a podcast...

We examine how modern time and motion studies expose hidden waste, translate seconds into savings, and protect sustainable pace. From Taylor and the Gilbreths to sensors and benchmarks, we map the methods, the maths, and the immediate actions that cut costs without cutting quality

• Spotting inefficiency in everyday work
• Time versus motion as separate measurements
• Resource planning using standard times and allowances
• Micro savings through layout and sequence changes
• Example maths for staffing and throughput
• Study types: activity, efficiency, role, predetermined
• History of Taylor and the Gilbreths
• Quantifying financial waste from poor scheduling
• Modern tech: video, sensors, software analysis
• Benchmarking click and collect performance
• Practical ergonomic and staffing changes
• Continuous improvement as the new one best way

Not only will our approach to a Time and Motion Study plot out exactly where you stand versus where you could be, but our analysts will provide practical steps on how to help you get there, saving you time, effort  and, ultimately, money

Contact our team today

More information on Time and Motion Studies can be found in our whitepaper – our experts’ views into how modern techniques are bringing about new productivity insights. Download here >>

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Building on the success of footfall insights we broaden the conversation with the Basket & Barometer podcast. Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat

In this episode we cover why average transaction value now matters more than footfall, and how Black Friday has shifted the peak. We share sector signals, consumer confidence trends, and what the budget and labour market mean for Q4

• Footfall softness versus inflation-adjusted sales decline
• Average transaction value as core survival metric
• Examples of ATV growth in small towns
• Discounting patterns and price guarantees in Black Friday
• Staffing planning shifting towards November peak
• Sector signals in health and beauty and fashion
• Consumer confidence at minus 19 and job market risk
• Online share stabilising and omnichannel basics that matter

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Productivity Pulse Episode 1

 Hear directly from our experts—Sue, Simon, & James—who share real-world trends, new data findings, and actionable productivity insights 

We dig into why efficiency swings across sites, how that volatility hurts peak service, and what workload models can do to stabilise performance. We also show how role drift reduces leadership time and how structured interviews add a 360 view that turns data into action.

• Variable efficiency index and why it matters
• Removing slack and the risks at peak
• Tactical fixes for rotas, breaks and coverage
• Building a robust workload model linked to WFM
• Reallocating budget to balance the estate
• Role studies revealing leadership time drift
• Restating manager expectations and blockers
• Structured interviews adding qualitative insight
• Turning insights into consistent employee and customer experience

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🚨 Podcast Reboot Alert! The ReThink Productivity Podcast is Back—and Smarter Than Ever! 🚀

We're thrilled to announce the official reboot of the ReThink Productivity Podcast with a brand-new format and a commitment to delivering high-impact, actionable insights twice a month

Our new focus is simple: Less Noise, More Intelligence

We’ll now be releasing two essential episodes per month—a mix of deep-dive interviews and actionable, data-driven insights—perfect for busy leaders who need to stay ahead of the curve

The Relaunch Lineup (Your First Two Episodes):

🎙️ Episode 1. The Productivity Pulse (Early Month)

• Data-Driven Action: Hear directly from our experts—Sue, Simon, & James—who share real-world trends, new data findings, and actionable productivity insights emerging from live projects
• Learn from Real-World Wins: Get tactical advice and success stories from organisations that have achieved transformative productivity across the board

💡Episode 2. Basket & Barometer (Late Month)

• Elevated Insights: In conversation with industry expert Diane Wehrle to move beyond surface-level metrics and tackle complex, data-driven metrics around customer shopping behaviour

For leaders in Operations, Strategy, and HR, this podcast provides the modern tools to build a smarter, more efficient, and ultimately more profitable business

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We weigh the real trade‑offs of building AI in‑house versus buying and configuring proven tools, and map a practical route from pilot to production without blowing the budget. Clear steps on data, governance, ethics, and IP help you create value you can measure.

• Build vs buy decisions tied to strategy and IP 
• When generic problems justify off‑the‑shelf tools 
• Niche bottlenecks and owning differentiated capability 
• Real costs of talent, data architecture and compute 
• Governance, scope control and reliability expectations 
• Data quality, sourcing and security by design 
• Measurable pilots, baselines and explainability 
• EBITDA impact, inference costs and ROI discipline 
• Ethics beyond bias, oversight and customer impact 
• Partner contracts, IP protection and reuse limits 
• Scaling blockers across finance, compliance, HR and IT 
• Regulations to watch including EU AI Act and GDPR

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