How do you go about increasing workers’ productivity? This is a question on the mind of pretty much all production managers in the packaging industry. After all, higher productivity helps the business to hit its targets. But to be able to increase productivity, it’s useful to know what factors affect it most. Understanding these factors is the key to improving productivity.
Although it might not be the first thing to spring to mind, the working environment does affect workers’ productivity. A study conducted by Interface reveals that a working environment can reduce workers’ stress levels and increase their well-being. In other words, a quieter, peaceful environment will enable you to do your work better. In fact, the study shows that a worker in a green, peaceful environment will be 6% more productive on average than a colleague working in an environment in which there are lots of garish colours (distraction).
Make sure that the working environment has a limited number of external stimuli and that it features natural hues and decent lighting (LED lights and daylight) to boost productivity.
The working environment is not the only crucial factor when it comes to increasing productivity. You also need to ensure the right conditions on the shop floor, such as the right temperature, humidity and air quality – particularly in the packaging industry. After all, a lot of heat and dust can be released during the production process.
Research shows that for each degree the temperature rises above 20ºC, there is a 4% drop in productivity. Consider, then, what the overall percentage drop will be when temperatures soar to over 30°C and sometimes even head towards 40°C.
But having the right conditions on the shop floor doesn’t just affect people – it also affects products. For example, an excessively low level of humidity will impact on the quality of paper and cardboard, giving rise to a higher rate of failures. In turn, this will push up levels of frustration among workers, which can have a knock-on effect on their productivity. It’s a vicious circle.
In short, a comfortable work climate with sufficient clean air, ventilation and the right temperature plays a crucial part in boosting productivity. Create an environment in which workers are able to perform optimally. Create a Fresh Factory.
The Fresh Factory represents an environment in which workers are able to perform optimally. A working environment with an adequate level of fresh air, the temperature always being optimally conducive to the best performance, and unhealthy fumes and substances being properly ventilated.
And contrary to common belief, no energy-hungry climate control systems are required for this. It can also be achieved at relatively low cost and in a sustainable manner. In that regard, it’s important to take a holistic perspective of the production area and the work climate. It isn’t just about having a cooling system here, some extraction there and heating somewhere else. It’s about the bigger picture, throughout the year.
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