Standardized Goals and Performance Feedback Aggregated Beyond the Work Unit: Optimizing the Use of Engineered Labor Standards and Electronic Performance Monitoring

Electronic performance monitoring can monitor employee performance, while providing proximal goals and immediate feedback. A warehouse management system was enhanced to depict goal and performance on handheld wireless computers to improve order selection in an auto-parts aftermarket distribution center. Upon the onset of the intervention of an engineered labor standard and electronic performance monitoring, performance immediately increased by 24 units picked per hour per person and was maintained for the duration of the study, an increase of 12.9%. Evidence from this study suggests that performance goals and feedback can be aggregated beyond the work-unit level without decreasing the effectiveness of the intervention.     

Electronic performance self-monitoring and engineered labor standards for “man-up” drivers in a distribution center

Electronic Performance Monitoring (EPM) represents the future of performance feedback where supervisors can electronically monitor the amount and quality of work an employee is producing and have objective indicators of employee performance immediately available and visible. In this study, immediate performance feedback and self-monitoring was delivered to employees in the warehouse on wireless vehicle-mounted computers. Order picking performance for “man-up” drivers (N = 10) was improved by three cases per hour per person in an auto-parts after-market distribution center when an intervention package that included the depiction of goal times and immediate performance feedback on wireless vehicle-mounted computers and a newly developed engineered labor standard (ELS). The implications of these findings and limitations are discussed in terms of operational and ethical issues regarding EPM in large industrial settings.     

Real‐time performance monitoring,goal‐setting,and feedback for forklift drivers in a distribution centre

In this study conducted in two auto‐parts after‐market distribution centres, immediate performance goals and feedback were delivered to employees in a warehouse on wireless vehicle‐mounted computers. Engineered labour standards (ELS) calculated work‐unit goal times and presented the driver with immediate performance feedback. Ultimately, the ELS feedback was linked to the company's forklift driver team pallet‐per‐hour quota achievement. Replenishment performance for forklift drivers (N=12) was improved by 2.14 pallets per hour when an intervention package that included the depiction of goal times and immediate performance feedback on wireless vehicle‐mounted computers and a newly developed ELS. The implications of these findings, limitations, and safety issues are discussed in terms of operational issues regarding ELS in large industrial settings.