Modeling and worker motivation in JIT production systems

Citation
Kl. Schultz et al., Modeling and worker motivation in JIT production systems, MANAG SCI, 44(12), 1998, pp. 1595-1607
Citations number
24
Categorie Soggetti
Management
Journal title
MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
ISSN journal
00251909 → ACNP
Volume
44
Issue
12
Year of publication
1998
Part
1
Pages
1595 - 1607
Database
ISI
SICI code
0025-1909(199812)44:12<1595:MAWMIJ>2.0.ZU;2-2
Abstract
This paper concerns the modeling of low inventory lines. Currently, most mo dels assume that processing times are independent. We consider the differen ces in behavior of workers in low- and high-inventory production lines. Usi ng a laboratory experiment we show that workers speed up when they are the cause of idle time on the line. This means that processing time distributio ns are not independent of the size of the buffer, of the processing speed o f co-workers, or of the amount of inventory in the system. We show that the direction of these effects is predictable and that the magnitude is signif icant. In particular, there is less idle time and higher output than would be predicted using assumptions of independence. in this experiment the effe ct completely canceled productivity loss due to blocking and starving. This work is important in understanding both the motivation of workers in low-i nventory systems and the implications of models of manufacturing flow lines .