Overall worker effectiveness (OWE) towards Six Sigma level output in Small and Medium-sized Manufacturing Enterprises: A micro analysis of factors affecting

The basic components in the conversion process of inputs to outputs in any manufacturing setup are materials, machines/ equipment, human element and methods. In a conventional manufacturing enterprise, an important section of human element is the production-worker who plays a vital role in the conversion of raw materials into finished products at the desired quality level. The major asset of most manufacturing SMEs in India is their workforce which has a significant influence in smaller, less automated companies. Since most Small and Medium-sized Manufacturing Enterprises (SMMEs) form the supply base of large organizations and are adopting strategies such as Six Sigma for their business process improvement, it is necessary for SMMEs to carry out manufacturing operations at/near Six Sigma level, too. Given that a fairly sound technology and materials of desired specifications for the conversion process are in place, SMMEs need to improve the overall effectiveness of their workforce for achieving output of Six Sigma qualities. In this paper, an attempt is made to identify and investigate the influence of various factors on the components of overall effectiveness of production-worker at work. Three main factors, namely, technical, personal, and environmental factors have been identified as the prime reasons for the poor overall effectiveness of the production-worker. These factors are further divided into sub-factors and their influence is investigated with application in SMMEs of North Karnataka.