manufacturing production quota system design
Hi All,
Are there any case studies / whitepapers / etc available online which cover design of production quota systems for manufacturing? My background's in Mech E but now involved in management. Having a quota system for goods manufacturing has been something I've pondered for sake of increased efficiency & satisfaction with employees, but much uncertainty arises when thinking on:
1) a 'level playing field' where differences in ease-of-access to raw materials impact the employee's cycle time
2) how to value different types of activities (cutting parts vs welding)...this is mostly already handled through different wage rates, but could change depending on intermittent demand surges and employee availability (cross-training would be heavily emphasized)
I think all concerns boil down to simply thinking one's way through them, but reading a case study of how other companies have done it would be helpful to color the design process. The feasibility of such a system is of-course situational w.r.t. the product(s) being manufactured, among other factors.
I've read that companies in Europe (esp. Germany) have done this for decades, and I'd assume plenty companies elsewhere.
My primary objective with this is to allow employees who are more productive to work shorter shifts, thereby having more time at home, while also offering incentives during temporary surges in demand.