OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

JOB DESIGN AND WORK ORGANIZATION

JOB DESIGN
What is that?

 It is a combination of role allocation, performance, operating technology and environment within the workplace.

6 Key Elements


Environmental Conditions-- concerns with the immediate surroundings How does the light, noise affect the working conditions? The area in which they work. Clean, ventilated properly, safe. Tasks and Roles labour allocation The division of tasks must be given to people who can perform them. Different tasks require different levels of skill.  You would not have both accounting and HR doing the same task.

Methods of Job Performance methods for each job or task

An operating method will be established for each job This will be the best method to increase production and eliminate wasted time The best method to produce the best results of the product  An example is the Assembly Line found in most auto makers. Each person has a particular role along the line, it is efficient and eliminates the need for people to do more then one task.

Time Allocation estimation of time to accomplish the task

Once you understand the amount of time it will take to do a particular task or job you can estimate the number of people needed to perform the task to completion. Example: Construction Developments have Project Managers who estimate the needed hours to complete the building. They then know how many people they will need to employ and how long it will take to complete the project.

Staff Commitment subjective necessities for the staff

Staff motivation and commitment to the job Benefits, promotions, salaries, extras These are matters which have to do with keeping the staff happy and part of the team.


Enables employees to feel empowered within the workplace, therefore leading to a deeper commitment

Ergonomics of the Environment workplace design

The workplace is designed to offer the best and most compatible environment to the required job and staff The lighting, noise, colours, machinery used, heat, air conditioning There are scientific studies which show that a particular level of light influences the level or efficiency of the work being done. Noise cannot be so loud as to disturb the function or distract the work being done.
   In a factory it is usually very loud, this is normal. However the noise can sometimes be dangerous so employers must offer methods to decrease this to the employees. If the workplace is an office, loud noise will disrupt the normal flow of the work environment. In Western countries a workplace must legally ensure that noise levels do not damage the hearing of employees. If the work environment includes working in noisy surroundings they are required to supply ear plugs to reduce this.

Machinery must be suitable, safe and efficient. Even the colours within the environment must be suitable and beneficial to the workplace.

Lets Look more closely at a few of these mentioned above:



at an example.

Task Allocation: to better understand this lets look

A Plumber is responsible for connecting water pipes through the new building. He must ensure that the pipes are the correct measurements, type and structure for the specific task. In some areas through the building he will use plastic, aluminium, copper or black pipe. Should he be responsible for allocating all the correct pipes, measuring them and cutting them as well as fitting, soldering and sweating them?
   Usually installing the plumbing in a new building has different tasks allocated to different people. The plumber will have an assistant. The assistant will find the required pipes, measure and cut them and then bring to the plumber.

If the connection of the pipes must be soldered, this will be done by someone else who is specially equipped to solder

 Why?
  

The job gets done faster People who are experienced with the particular task do them more efficiently. Less wasted time doing complex jobs while each person has a focus for a particular step in the completion process. Can be monotonous and boring, leaving the employee tired and distracted. Can cause physical injury doing a repetitive motion daily for many hours. Minimises flexibility with employees not crosstrained to do other jobs.

The downside of Task allocation:

  

Job Method Design: this is basically estimating, or deciding what is the best method to do a particular job?
A simple example is this: In the morning we decide to have cereal for breakfast. Maybe we want some fruit in the bowl with the cereal, and we want a cup of coffee with our breakfast. We identify what we need to do to have this:
     Get the cereal out, get a bowl. Get milk Get the fruit Find our coffee, get a cup Get the filters, put water in the coffee machine.

The question before us is this: How do we do all of this in the best method or sequence of steps to accomplish it quickly and most efficiently?  Would you get the bowl, then get the cerealpour cereal in the bowl, pour the milk and then cut the fruit and put in the bowl?  Or, would you cut the fruit first. Get the bowl, put cereal in, then fruit, then milk. Pour water in the coffee machine, pour coffee in the filter then start the machine? The above example is a simple understanding of what is done when Job Design is created.  They look at the required task and try to decide the best method in performing that task.

 Typical Steps in Job Design include:  select the work/task to be studied  record relevant facts of the present method  examine the facts  develop economic practical and effective method  install the new method  monitor the new method for efficiency

Time Allocation: how long will it take for a : particular task? How many people do I need to perform this task?
This is the process of establishing time for a qualified worker, at a defined standard performance, to carry out a specific job.
 A qualified worker is someone with the necessary skills to perform the task at a high standard of acceptance, quality and quantity. A standard performance is the rate of output which the qualified worker will achieve without over-exertion as an average. Example: Auto assembly line one worker has a specific job to attach mirrors on average, without overexertion, he can attach 200 mirrors daily over an 8 hour work day.

Lets summarize the above before moving on

Some of the steps we need to do to figure out how to task, allocate time and working methods are listed here:  When trying to figure out how to find working methods for a task: Work should be arranged for the natural rhythm of the body. Movements should be in cooperation with natural movements, right to left or left to right, up down or down up? Use all capabilities of the body, both hands, sitting and standing. Work should be at a level which does not over burden the body. If the worker stands at an assembly line to fill bread bags, the line should be at a level that he can reach the products easily and quickly. The task should be simplified as much as possible with the least amount of individual movements needed. Any tools, materials or controls should be located in defined places. Mechanical devices needed for the task should be located and fitted for human use.

Job Commitment: the approach to job Design in relation to

commitment of the employees involves two stages. How do the characteristics of the job affect the workers motivation. How worker motivation towards the job affects their performance.  The problem with most work places is simple in that the employees are both happy and motivated, or they are not. Some of the ways to resolve lack of motivation have nothing to do with wage or salary. Some Reasons workers are not motivated:  Lack of involvement, isolated jobs  Lack of (assumed) appreciation from management  Lack of responsibility  Boredom, no potential, no challenge, no flexibility  Working hours

 How do we resolve these problems?



Empowerment allowing the employee some degree of control over their jobs, hours and more
Allow employees to:  Make suggestions for changes  Be involved with decisions about working conditions, hours, benefits, etc.

Flexible Working allows people to change or adapt working hours to suit the changing lives. Over the past 50 years working time, home life and families have changed. This is a method to assist the workers to balance busy lives.  Example: A single father has two children, 8 and 12, and must bring them to school and pick them up at 1500. If he were made to work from 0800 to 1700 every day he would be in a difficult position to care for his children.  With a flexible working environment he could change his hours, or negotiate a later start time and use his lunch time to pick up his children.  Example: A worker is also a University student, he cannot work a full day. Perhaps he can job-share, which means he shares a full-time job with one other person. The other person works the hours he does not.

Skills Flexibility A workforce which is crosstrained, flexible and able to adapt to changes is more beneficial.
Multi-skills means having a workforce who are trained in several different tasks. Beneficial in allowing to fill tasks as they are needed. It also assists to eliminate job boredom, non challenge. It also allows employees to feel valued.