Production Line Workers Research Articles

Pareto analysis based on records

Estimation of the parameters of an exponential distribution based on record data has been treated by Samaniego and Whitaker [On estimating population characteristics from record-breaking observations, I. Parametric results, Naval Res. Logist. Q. 33 (1986), pp. 531–543] and Doostparast [A note on estimation based on record data, Metrika 69 (2009), pp. 69–80]. Recently, Doostparast and Balakrishnan [Optimal record-based statistical procedures for the two-parameter exponential distribution, J. Statist. Comput. Simul. 81(12) (2011), pp. 2003–2019] obtained optimal confidence intervals as well as uniformly most powerful tests for one- and two-sided hypotheses concerning location and scale parameters based on record data from a two-parameter exponential model. In this paper, we derive optimal statistical procedures including point and interval estimation as well as most powerful tests based on record data from a two-parameter Pareto model. For illustrative purpose, a data set on annual wages of a sample of production-line workers in a large industrial firm is analysed using the proposed procedures.

Impact of the relationship between transformational and traditional leadership styles on Iran's automobile industry job satisfaction

Purpose – This study aims to look into the ways in which leadership styles including transformational and traditional (independent variable) affect employee job satisfaction (dependent variable), focusing on six production lines in the Iranian automobile industry.Design/methodology/approach – The study focused solely on the production line workers and used questionnaires to obtain the relevant data. Implementation of the questionnaires was done using the proportional stratified random sampling method, whereby questionnaires were distributed to the target population over the period June to August 2010. Of the 600 questionnaires distributed 540 were returned completed.Findings – The survey results showed the dominant leadership style practiced in the industry to be the transformational styles. The employees reported moderate satisfaction with their jobs. The findings revealed that different employee job satisfaction components were impacted in different ways depending on the leadership style.Originality/val...

The impact of automation on pharmacy staff experience of workplace stressors

Determine the effect of installing an original pack automated dispensing system (ADS) on staff experience of occupational stressors. Pharmacy staff in a National Health Service hospital in Wales, UK, were administered an anonymous occupational stressor questionnaire pre- (n = 45) and post-automation (n = 32). Survey responses pre- and post-automation were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Statistical significance was P ≤ 0.05. Four focus groups were conducted (two groups of accredited checking technicians (ACTs) (group 1: n = 4; group 2: n = 6), one group of pharmacists (n = 17), and one group of technicians (n = 4) post-automation to explore staff experiences of occupational stressors. Focus group transcripts were analysed according to framework analysis. Survey response rate pre-automation was 78% (n = 35) and 49% (n = 16) post-automation. Automation had a positive impact on staff experience of stress (P = 0.023), illogical workload allocation (P = 0.004) and work-life balance (P = 0.05). All focus-group participants reported that automation had created a spacious working environment. Pharmacists and ACTs reported that automation had enabled the expansion of their roles. Technicians felt like 'production-line workers.' Robot malfunction was a source of stress. The findings suggest that automation had a positive impact on staff experience of stressors, improving working conditions and workload. Technicians reported that ADS devalued their skills. When installing ADS, pharmacy managers must consider the impact of automation on staff. Strategies to reduce stressors associated with automation include rotating staff activities and role expansions.

Capacidade para o trabalho e qualidade de vida de trabalhadores industriais

The scope of this study was to evaluate the quality of life and work ability of industrial workers by means of self-perception questionnaires. 100 industrial production line workers on the night shift participated in this study. Authorized Brazilian translations of the Work Ability Index (WAI) and the Abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-Bref) Assessment Instrument were applied. The results show an association between work ability and the whole set of domains of quality of life, presenting a closer association with the physical domain (r =0.61). Furthermore, young men obtained higher ability to work results, while women aged between 30 and 39 had the lowest quality of life indices (p =0.027), especially in the Social Relationships and Environment domains. This shows that preventive guidelines for the improvement of aspects linked to the Physical domain are necessary both in the workplace and outside the workplace, since this interaction exacerbates the effects on the physical aspect in both spheres.

Bayesian analysis for the two-parameter Pareto distribution based on record values and times

Doostparast and Balakrishnan (Pareto record-based analysis, Statistics, under review) recently developed optimal confidence intervals as well as uniformly most powerful tests for one- and two-sided hypotheses concerning shape and scale parameters, for the two-parameter Pareto distribution based on record data. In this paper, on the basis of record values and inter-record times from the two-parameter Pareto distribution, maximum-likelihood and Bayes estimators as well as credible regions are developed for the two parameters of the Pareto distribution. For illustrative purposes, a data set on annual wages of a sample of production-line workers in a large industrial firm is analysed using the proposed procedures.

Optimal business decision system for multinationals: A multifactor analysis of selected manufacturing firms

Traditional MIS has been made more effective through the integration of organization, human and technology factors into a decision matrix. The study is motivated by the need to find an optimal mix of interactive factors that will optimize the result of decision to apply ICT to manufacturing processes. The study used Factor analysis model based on the sampled opinion of forty (40) operations/production managers and two thousand (2000) production line workers of three leading manufacturing firms: Uniliver Plc., PZ Plc, and Nigerian Breweries Plc operating in Aba Industrial Estate of Nigeria. The results shows that a progressive mixed factor loading matrix, based on the preferred ordered importance of resources factors in the formulation, implementation, monitoring, control and evaluation of ICT projects of the selected firms led to an average capability improvement of 0.764 in decision efficiency. This is considered strategic for achieving balanced corporate growth and development.

WEB-based Modeling and Simulation Technology in the Training of Power Plant Application -A Set of Steam Turbine for Instance

Electric power generation requires a great deal of production equipment, such as steam turbines, boilers, etc., how to insure the well-run condition of such equipment is the key for normal production. It is an efficient way to using computer modeling and simulation technology during the training of equipment application. First of all, build their plane model according to the equipment drawings, then three-dimensional simulation, at last, preview in WEB browser to improve the degree of familiarity to the various types of electrical equipment for power production workers. Through this modeling and simulation technology, with the help of text, pictures, animation and other multimedia mode to display the electrical equipment in different angles. At the end of this paper, taking the major electrical equipmentsteam turbine as an example, it described the practical application. Practice has shown that the application of modeling and simulation technology can help a lot for the production line workers to understand the equipment.

Prevalence and associated factors of spinal pain among food industry workers in the city of Shiraz

Spinal pain is considered as one of the important job lesions among workers of industrial plants due to heavy labor and lots of manual material handlings. So, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of spinal pain and associated factors among production line workers in Shiraz.

Retrospective Exposure Assessment for Carcinogenic Agents in Bitumen Waterproofing Industry in Finland and Denmark

The purpose of the study was (i) to identify the carcinogenic agents that may cause confounding when studying the exposure-response relationship between bitumen fume exposure and cancer among roofing membrane-manufacturing workers and roofers and (ii) to assess exposures to the identified carcinogens and bitumen fume in roofing membrane manufacturing and roofing in Finland and Denmark from 1950 to 2005. Information on the use of carcinogenic agents and other relevant data were collected through semi-structured interviews of senior employees in the industry. Semi-quantitative exposure assessments were made on the basis of available measurement data and information obtained from the interviews and literature. Most of the production line workers in roofing membrane plants in Finland were exposed to asbestos until the mid-1970s. Also, some of the mixer operators in the plants were exposed to asbestos in Finland during the 1970s and in Denmark from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s. In both countries, coal tar pitch was used in roofing membrane manufacturing until the mid-1960s, and consequently, exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the plants was high in the 1950s and still significant in the early 1960s. Exposure of production line workers to quartz dust was high until the 1980s and is still relatively high compared with current occupational exposure limit values. Bitumen roofers' exposure to coal tar-derived PAHs may have been significant in both countries until the end of 1960s. Roofers' exposure to asbestos and quartz was estimated to have been near background level. The estimated average annual exposures to asbestos, coal tar-derived PAHs and quartz dust in the bitumen waterproofing industry in Finland and Denmark were significant in the past but have a clear declining trend. Exposure to bitumen fume was found to follow a similar trend.

Musculoskeletal Problems among Workers of an Iranian Rubber Factory

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a common health problem throughout the world and a major cause of disability among the work force. Assessment of exposure level to MSD risk factors can be an appropriate base for planning and implementing interventional ergonomic programs in the workplace. This study was conducted among workers of an Iranian rubber factory with the objectives of (a) determination of the prevalence of MSDs among production line workers, and (b) assessment of the level of exposure to MSD risks. In this study, all 16 production units of the factory were studied. In each unit, 50% of the workers were randomly selected and included in the study. A total of 454 workers participated. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to study the prevalence of MSDs and the Quick Exposure Check (QEC) technique was applied to assess physical exposure to the risks. The videotaping technique was used to collect the required data for each worker. The vast majority of the workers (73.6%) had suffered from some kind of musculoskeletal symptoms during the last 12 months. The highest prevalence was reported in the lower back (50.2%), knees (48.5%) and upper back (38.1%). In 85.5% of the workers studied, the QEC score was high or very high. Statistical analysis showed a significant association between the QEC level of risk and MSDs symptoms (p<0.001). The most common ergonomics problems were found to be awkward postures and manual material handling. MSDs had occurred with a high rate among workers of this rubber factory. Corrective measures for reducing risk level seemed essential. Elimination of awkward postures and manual material handling in the workplace were recommended.

Throughput in Serial Lines with State-Dependent Behavior

Experimental evidence suggests that production-line workers adjust their work rates in certain situations to prevent idle time. We refer to this as state-dependent behavior, in contrast to the state-independent behavior of machines. In this paper, we develop several models for the state-dependent behavior of production workers. We then use these models to analyze the relation of line length to throughput in these systems. We find that state-dependent behavior makes serial lines more efficient and reduces the detrimental effects that longer line lengths have on throughput. In some cases, line efficiency can actually increase with length. This is a result of a higher percentage of workers having two buffers to provide feedback on the state of the line. Further, we show that workers who both speed up when they are likely to cause idle time for others and slow down when they are likely to become idle themselves improve the overall efficiency of the line.

Learning to talk: from manual work to discourse work as self‐regulating practice

In the new work order, more and more work is talk, and much of the new kinds of textual or discourse work that employees, including production line workers, are undertaking, is enacted during team meetings. Learning to be a team member involves learning to talk. This paper presents ethnographic and discourse data from a large, Australian manufacturing workplace to argue that central to the participatory practices of working in teams is the development of discursive networks of participation, constructed to elicit “bottom up” engagement with work‐related problems and issues, and produce offers of worker involvement, rather than relying on more traditional, “top down” management commands and control of workplace knowledge. In the case presented here, the team members are production line workers from different areas of the workplace and thus they hold, and (can) contribute, different kinds of knowledge to the team meetings. The developing discourses of offers and suggestions for improvements can be seen as producing self‐regulating (organisational) workers.

Evaluation of self-reported skin problems among workers exposed to toluene diisocyanate (TDI) at a foam manufacturing facility.

Toluene diisocyanate, or TDI (CAS 584-84-9) is a well-known asthmagen and respiratory irritant. TDI is also known for its ability to irritate the skin and mucous membranes. To further investigate the dermal effects of TDI, NIOSH investigators conducted a cross-sectional study at a flexible foam manufacturing plant. A total of 114 workers participated in the study. Participants completed a medical questionnaire, provided blood for antibody testing to TDI and other allergens, and a subset of participants reporting skin symptoms underwent skin patch testing to a standard diisocyanate panel. Production line workers were more than twice as likely to report skin problems as those working in nonproduction areas (PRR = 2.66; 95% CI = 1.14-16.32; P = 0.02). Age, gender and duration of employment at the plant were comparable among participants working in production and nonproduction areas. Of the 100 participants who provided blood samples for antibody testing, specific IgG antibody to TDI was detected in two individuals, and none of the samples demonstrated specific IgE antibody to TDI. Of the 26 workers who underwent skin patch testing, none developed reactions to the diisocyanate allergens. These results suggest that the skin symptoms among study participants represent an irritant rather than an immunologic reaction to TDI, or to an unidentified allergen present in the foam.

Racial Conflicts in the Australian Automotive Industry in the 1950s: Production Line Workers, the Vehicle Builders Employees' Federation and Shop Floor Organisation

Racial and xenophobic hostilities were not uncommon in the Australian automotive industry in the 1950s and southern European and other non-English speaking background workers often fell victim to s...

Immigration and Production Line Margins in the 1950s Vehicle Building Industry

In the 1950s, the Australian automotive industry exerted pressure on the Common wealth government to import southern European labour on a mass scale. The employers' aim was to overcome severe labour shortages on the production lines, particularly in the areas where Australian-born and non-Mediterranean immi grant men were generally reluctant to work. Prior to and during the early part of this decade, the Vehicle Builders Employees Federation (since January 1993 the Automotive section of the Automotive, Metal and Engineering Union) were exploit ing the labour shortages in the industry to strengthen their claim for the introduc tion of a uniform, semi-skilled, second-class tradesmen's margin for production line workers. Two major car makers were already paying this semi-skilled wage to line workers. The mass recruitment of southern European labour by the vehicle building industry was one of the factors undermining the production line workers' claim for this semi-skilled margin. The other important factors were Commissioner Galvin's rigid views about the marginal rates and comparative wage justice and the Vehicle Builders Employees Federation's organizational weakness and remote ness from its members.

The Impact of Implementing JIT on Employees′ Job Attitudes

Presents survey results describing the effect that adopting Just‐in‐Time (JIT) manufacturing methods had on the job attitudes of production line workers at a Hewlett‐Packard plant. JIT manufacturing is one of the latest Japanese management techniques to be adopted and implemented by Western companies. The operational benefits of adopting JIT have been widely documented; however, uneasiness has occasionally been expressed concerning the human impact of changing from a traditional manufacturing structure to a JIT philosophy. Unfortunately, little empirical evidence is available concerning the effect on workers of changing to a JIT manufacturing scheme. Workers on an electronic assembly line completed written questionnaires in the late 1980s when JIT was begun, and again two years later after the production line had stabilized. Even though drastic changes occurred in the work environment, generally positive changes in attitudes occurred during the implementation period. In addition, no significant drop‐off i...

VARIABILITY IN PROTECTION AFFORDED BY HALF-MASK RESPIRATORS AGAINST STYRENE EXPOSURE IN THE FIELD

Concentrations of styrene were measured in the breathing zone and inside the facepiece of air-purifying half-mask respirators of 13 workers for three to six 1-hr periods while they were engaged in the production of fiberglass-reinforced products. These data were used to estimate the protection afforded by the respirators. In arriving at these estimates, it was necessary to correct the concentration measured inside the mask for pulmonary retention of styrene by the workers. Workers were classified as sprayers or as other production line workers not directly carrying out spraying operations. An analysis of variance showed no evidence of differences in the level of protection afforded by the respirators between the two job classes. A second analysis of variance showed that protection varied between workers as well as for a single worker during different wearing periods. The geometric standard deviation (GSD) between workers was 1.92, the common within-worker GSD was 2.93, and the total GSD was 3.51. One-half of a population of wearers with similar protection would be expected to experience long-term average workplace protection factors in excess of 44 and one-half below that value. The observation of between-worker and within-worker variability in protection indicates that both sources of variability have to be taken into account in the specification of maximum use concentrations.

Banishing the necktie: As automakers discover as much useful knowledge on the factory floor as in the executive suite, respect and productivity follow

Vice presidents wearing coveralls, lack of preferred parking spaces, and open offices may seem only token gestures, but simple measures like these symbolize an upheaval in the way U.S. automakers now manage production-line workers. More practical measures that are beginning to be adopted widely in the United States include arranging workers in teams, permitting any worker to stop the production line to fix a problem, eliminating job classifications, and mutual planning by managers and United Auto Workers (UAW) union representatives. The Japanese philosophy of making all workers as equal as possible has invaded U.S. manufacturing plants.

Productivity improvement through quality approach wage incentives for production line workers

This paper presents a quality approach towards developing a wage incentive plan for production line workers. The plan rewards workers on the basis of the “loss-level” of their outputs. A sanitaryware manufacturing plant is used as the case where the wage incentive model development is based upon. Although the model “per se” is specific, the approach as clearly described in the paper can easily be applied to develop wage incentive models in other production systems.

Prevalence of dental caries among workers in the sweets industry in Israel.

The purpose of the present study was to assemble data on the prevalence of dental caries among workers in the sweets industry. Three confectionaries were selected for the study. Most employees consented to be examined and were included in the study. The participants were distributed into two main groups: production line workers (228 participants) and non-production line workers (195 participants). The control group consisted of a group of production line workers from five textile industrial establishments; 812 in all. The results indicate that the mean DMFT values recorded for the sweets industry workers were significantly higher than those recorded for the control group. Significantly higher mean DMFT values recorded in the production line workers, as compared with the non-production line workers, in the confectionary industry were assumed to be attributed to a higher consumption of sweets and closer exposure to sugar dust. Mean DMFT values were found to increase significantly in relation to the duration of exposure to the effect of carbohydrates in both groups of workers in the sweets industry.