Developing the organization's productivity strategy in various sectors of industry

Abstract

Purpose -The paper aims to present an approach to improve the organisation's productivity which is applicable in every industrial sector. The nucleus of the approach is to develop an optimal productivity strategy in an organization by the application of a uniform static model of productivity (Q4-model), covering quantity and quality aspects and applicable to various sectors of industry, and a dynamic control cycle. Design/methodology/approach -The study discusses the steps of the approach and presents three case studies from different industrial sectors where the approach has been applied. Findings -The approach has proven to be uniformly applicable in all three cases from these different sectors, namely consultancy, health care and manufacturing. Across these applications highly different productivity-related challenges, productivity strategies, and specific interventions are described in the perspective of the Q4-model. Research limitations/implications -The approach is not made for measuring the quantity and quality input and output factors of productivity. Practical implications -The approach succeeds in developing a productivity strategy which combines quantity and quality input and output factors and supports the transformation of a strategy analysis into a practical intervention. Originality/value -The approach is unique in its uniform applicability to every industrial sector and is helpful to entrepreneurs, managers and innovators.

Technological Choice and Workplace Innovation: Towards Efficient and Humanised Work

“…There is not 'one best way', on the contrary, there are very many options. Choices can be made by trading off strategic goals against the costs and benefits to achieve the desired goals (Oeij et al, 2011). Our advice is to seek a balance between organisational performance and quality of work .…”

Simulation-Aided Value Stream Mapping for Productivity Progression in a Steel Shaft Manufacturing Environment

“…The steel manufacturing industry contributes 17 per cent of the GDP generated in South Africa [5]. Optimising productivity in a steel shaft manufacturing environment will enable the industry to compete in the global market in terms of quality, operations cost, and delivery, thus leading to the efficient use of resources and the reduction of inventories generated in the manufacturing system ( [6], [7]). The productivity rate in the steel shaft manufacturing industry remains low, which thus lowers the competitiveness of these industries ( [8], [9]).…”

“…A U-shaped facility layout design and a pull strategy, which ensure (1) the minimum distance between various workstation positions responsible for shaft production, and (2) the release of the exact WIP products demanded by various workstations, were proposed for this manufacturing environment. Based on this new facility layout design, the number of motions exhibited by the workers each day, and the transportation distance covered between the warehouse, the sawmaster, CNC, Herbert, milling, and packing during shaft manufacturing are 12,11,8,7,13,14, and 123 m, 104 m, 149 m, 86 m, 93 m, and 106 m respectively.…”

Workplace Innovation, Social Innovation, and Social Quality

“…The study was conducted on the base of the Netherlands Employers Work Survey (NEWS), which took place in 2008. The analyses were performed on a sub-sample of the respondents from 2.263 work organizations (Oeij et al 2009). In the NEWS over 5000 firms are surveyed (mostly via the Internet and partly via a paper and pencil questionnaire) with questions focused on industrial relations and working conditions, a firm's managerial performance, and its organizational characteristics.…”

“…The WEA (Werkgevers Enquête Arbeid, in English: NEWS, Netherlands Employers Work Survey) systematically collects data on work and employment in establishments of profit as well as non-profit organizations in the Netherlands (Oeij et al 2009). The WEA is a two-yearly representative survey among 5000 establishments counting two or more employees.…”