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An Example and a Proposal Concerning the Correlation of Worker Processing Times in Parallel Tasks

Author

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  • Kenneth L. Schultz

    (School of Business, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R6, Canada)

  • Tobias Schoenherr

    (Department of Supply Chain Management, Eli Broad Graduate School of Management, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824)

  • David Nembhard

    (Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802)

Abstract

Models and understanding of line design depend on accurate assessments of the effects of design parameters on human actions. Although equity theory predicts that workers will react to the speed of people around them, experimental work has failed to find this effect in an industrial setting with parallel workstations or a change in coworkers. With the current research we contribute to the understanding of line design by using archival data from a manufacturing line. We show that workers do react to the speed of their coworkers, but that individual reactions vary widely. Because workers are different both in speed and reaction, managerial implications are not straightforward. We model an optimal and a heuristic rearrangement of workers and suggest a modified heuristic that performs well for increasing throughput. Our methodology combines empirical approaches, analytical modeling, and Monte Carlo simulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Kenneth L. Schultz & Tobias Schoenherr & David Nembhard, 2010. "An Example and a Proposal Concerning the Correlation of Worker Processing Times in Parallel Tasks," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 56(1), pages 176-191, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:56:y:2010:i:1:p:176-191
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.1090.1080
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stephen G. Powell & Kenneth L. Schultz, 2004. "Throughput in Serial Lines with State-Dependent Behavior," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 50(8), pages 1095-1105, August.
    2. Kenneth L. Schultz & David C. Juran & John W. Boudreau & John O. McClain & L. Joseph Thomas, 1998. "Modeling and Worker Motivation in JIT Production Systems," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 44(12-Part-1), pages 1595-1607, December.
    3. John O. McClain & Kenneth L. Schultz & L. Joseph Thomas, 2000. "Management of Worksharing Systems," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 2(1), pages 49-67, July.
    4. Scott M. Shafer & David A. Nembhard & Mustafa V. Uzumeri, 2001. "The Effects of Worker Learning, Forgetting, and Heterogeneity on Assembly Line Productivity," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 47(12), pages 1639-1653, December.
    5. Kenneth L. Schultz & David C. Juran & John W. Boudreau, 1999. "The Effects of Low Inventory on the Development of Productivity Norms," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 45(12), pages 1664-1678, December.
    6. Wallace J. Hopp, 2004. "Fifty Years of Management Science," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 50(1), pages 1-7, January.
    7. Leslie C. Edie, 1954. "Traffic Delays at Toll Booths," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 2(2), pages 107-138, May.
    8. Enno Siemsen & Sridhar Balasubramanian & Aleda V. Roth, 2007. "Incentives That Induce Task-Related Effort, Helping, and Knowledge Sharing in Workgroups," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 53(10), pages 1533-1550, October.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Masha Shunko & Julie Niederhoff & Yaroslav Rosokha, 2018. "Humans Are Not Machines: The Behavioral Impact of Queueing Design on Service Time," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 64(1), pages 453-473, January.
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