Hotlates Case Study
Week Two Assignment: Making Hotplates
Keidra R. Conner
BUS 644 Operations Management
Dr. Jamal Batta
January 7, 2013
1. What changes in the work situation might account for the increase in productivity and the decrease in controllable rejects?
The changes in the work situation that might account for the increase in productivity and the decrease in controllable defects are the redesign of the work flow and the increase in the work responsibility assigned to each worker. The redesign of the work flow allowed workers to assemble a unit of the hotplate instead of only a part repetitively. This resulted to empowered workers as they now feel that they own the job. Given the more responsibility, the workers became more empowered and accountable with their jobs and tasks. Each worker was treated as an individual creating a hot plate instead of just a part of the process. I believe the workers gained ownership and pride in their work. The workers took something and made it their own which resulted in a better sense of self-worth. With a new sense of ownership and pride, the assembly line mentality disappeared. Instead of the same old job, it became personal. The rejects declined because the workers are focused on completing the task that they are now more responsible for completing. Since the hotplate is now their piece, the workers are more precise and accurate in making a piece they can be proud of which eliminates or decreases the rejects.
2. What might account for the drop in absenteeism and the increase in moral?
The drop in absenteeism and increase in morale were due to the increased satisfaction of the workers with their jobs. Satisfaction refers to a sense of a job that is worth doing, or happiness with the job. Job dissatisfaction is one result of overspecialization in job design, because the workers are unable to feel any sense of ownership of their work or control over their jobs. They are not able to feel
Keidra R. Conner
BUS 644 Operations Management
Dr. Jamal Batta
January 7, 2013
1. What changes in the work situation might account for the increase in productivity and the decrease in controllable rejects?
The changes in the work situation that might account for the increase in productivity and the decrease in controllable defects are the redesign of the work flow and the increase in the work responsibility assigned to each worker. The redesign of the work flow allowed workers to assemble a unit of the hotplate instead of only a part repetitively. This resulted to empowered workers as they now feel that they own the job. Given the more responsibility, the workers became more empowered and accountable with their jobs and tasks. Each worker was treated as an individual creating a hot plate instead of just a part of the process. I believe the workers gained ownership and pride in their work. The workers took something and made it their own which resulted in a better sense of self-worth. With a new sense of ownership and pride, the assembly line mentality disappeared. Instead of the same old job, it became personal. The rejects declined because the workers are focused on completing the task that they are now more responsible for completing. Since the hotplate is now their piece, the workers are more precise and accurate in making a piece they can be proud of which eliminates or decreases the rejects.
2. What might account for the drop in absenteeism and the increase in moral?
The drop in absenteeism and increase in morale were due to the increased satisfaction of the workers with their jobs. Satisfaction refers to a sense of a job that is worth doing, or happiness with the job. Job dissatisfaction is one result of overspecialization in job design, because the workers are unable to feel any sense of ownership of their work or control over their jobs. They are not able to feel
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