1DSCI 3123

Human Resources in Operations

• Strategic Planning Process• Changing Nature of HR Management• Behavioral Influences and Trends In Job Design

In Job Design• Evolution of Job Design• Elements of Job Design• Learning Curves

2DSCI 3123

Human Resources In Strategic Planning

• TQM recognizes importance of employees

• Education & training viewed as long-term investments - Motivation for productivity

• Employees–have broad latitude in jobs–are trained in wide range of skills–are empowered to improve quality & service

3DSCI 3123

Changes In HR Management

• Skilled craftspeople - basic machine shop

• Scientific management - Taylor

• Assembly lines - reduction of labor time

• Limitations of scientific management–employees lack of motivation to perform

–boredom and mental fatigue

• Behavioral influences in job design

4DSCI 3123

Behavioral Influences In Job Design

1. Horizontal and Vertical job enlargement

2. Motivation of Workers

3. Responsibility for job reliability & quality

4. Job rotation

5. Communication between workers

5DSCI 3123

Trends In Job Design

• Job and task flexibility - employee versatility

• Responsibility & empowerment - Paradigm Shift

• Increased skill & ability levels - link to training

• Employee involvement & compensation - motivation

• Technology & automation - increased training

• Temporary employees - increased usage

• Job satisfaction - How do you measure this?

6DSCI 3123

Evolution of Job Design 1900s to 1960s - Scientific Management/Assembly Lines

• Task specialization

• Minimal worker skills

• Repetition

• Minimal job training

• Mass production

• Piece-rate wages

• Time as efficiency

• Minimal job responsibility

• Tight supervisory control

7DSCI 3123

Evolution Of Job Design 1970s to 1990s

• Horizontal job enlargement

• Vertical job enlargement

• Extensive job training

• Job responsibility & empowerment

• Job control

• Training & education

• Job rotation

• Higher skill levels

• Team problem solving

• Employee involvement & interaction

• Focus on quality

8DSCI 3123

Elements of Job Design

Task AnalysisWorker Analysis

Environmental Analysis

9DSCI 3123

Task Analysis

• Description of tasks

• Task sequence

• Function of tasks

• Frequency of tasks

• Criticality of tasks

• Relationship with other jobs/tasks

• Performance rqmts

• Information rqmts

• Control rqmts

• Error possibilities

• Task duration(s)

• Equipment rqmts

10DSCI 3123

Worker Analysis

• Capability rqmts• Performance rqmts• Evaluation• Skill level• Physical rqmts• Mental stress• Boredom

• Motivation

• Number of workers

• Level of responsibility

• Monitoring level

• Quality responsibility

• Empowerment level

11DSCI 3123

Environmental Analysis

• Work place location

• Process location

• Temperature and humidity

• Lighting

• Ventilation

• Safety

• Logistics

• Space rqmts

• Noise

• Vibration

12DSCI 3123

Job Analysis

• Study how job should be done

• Tools:

Process flowchart --> analyze process steps

Worker-machine chart --> study time utilization

Motion study --> study human motions in tasks

13DSCI 3123

Motion Study

• Frank & Lillian Gilbreth

• Find one “best way” to do task

• Divide task into therbligs (Gilbreth backwards?)

–search, select, grasp, hold

• Out-of-date by the ‘70’s but the principles live on

14DSCI 3123

General Guidelines For Motion Study

• Efficient Use Of Human Body– Work - simplified, rhythmic & symmetric

– Conserve energy - use machines, minimize distances, use momentum

• Efficient Arrangement Of Workplace– Tools, material, equipment - designated, easily accessible location

– Seating & work area - comfortable & healthy

• Efficient Use Of Equipment– Equipment & mechanized tools enhance worker abilities

– Construct & arrange equipment to fit worker use

15DSCI 3123

Work Measurement

• Estimate standard time required to perform a task

• Methods of performing work measurement–Stopwatch time study–Elemental standard time files–Predetermined motion times–Work sampling

16DSCI 3123

Learning Curve For Mass Production

• Processing time decreases with worker learning (experience)

• Time per unit decreases by constant percentage each time output doubles

• Use to plan labor, budget & scheduling requirements

17DSCI 3123

Learning CurveP

roce

ssin

g ti

me

per

unit

Units produced

18DSCI 3123

Computing Time For Nth Unit

tn = t1nb

Where,tn = time required for nth unit

t1 = time required for first unit

n = cumulative number of units produced

b = ln r/ln 2, where r is the percentage rate of improvement

19DSCI 3123

Learning Curve Example

Contract to produce 36 computers

t1 = 18 hours, Learning rate = 80%

What is time for 9th, 18th, 36th units?

t9 = (18)(9)ln(0.8)/ln(2) = (18)(9)-0.322

= (18)/(9)0.322 = (18)(0.493) = 8.874hrs

t18 = (18)(18)ln(0.8)/ln(2) = (18)(0.394) = 7.092hrs

t36 = (18)(36)ln(0.8)/ln(2) = (18)(0.315) = 5.674hrs