When speaking of productivity, all companies look to get the most out of their Operations. Often we see companies which, through the years, have accumulated historical data or have summarily evaluated (according to their judgement) theirexpectations, establishing a minimum productivity level required on the part of their employees. 180 cases per hour, 300 lines per hour, number of cases per day…These productivity levels are, primarily, a limitation on what your productivity level should be, and on the other hand, are generally not sustainable in a unionized environment.
Do not confuse: time standards and productivity expectation
To obtain the most out of your operation, it is recommended to implement a system that uses engineered labour standards. These systems allow you to set a specific amount of time in which the employee must perform a specific task. Further to data capturing performed by employees, the system records the start and end times of the performed activity and compares the established standards with the actual time used to accomplish the task. This comparison is translated into a performance level measured as a percentage. The administrators then use this efficiency measure to summarise all tasks performed employees during a workday to allow a detailed follow-up. This kind of follow-up can apply to several types of functions, but is generally applied to order assembly.
The standard times are established by industrial engineers and incorporated into the system in order to evaluate the time each assembly order should take. The techniques used to establish these standards are internationally renowned and approved by unions.
Such a system offers the following advantages :
This type of system is not the final solution to all your productivity problems, it’s a management tool. Administration (Supervisors, Managers, Directors…) always play a primary role in this process. It is their role to ensure that data integrity is obtained on a daily basis and to take the necessary steps so employees attain their objectives: they must on the shop floor and make sure all potential obstacles are removed. In essence, these actions are what truly allow productivity improvements.