Maximization of Labor Productivity Through Optimal Rest-Break Schedules

Stephen E. Bechtold, Ralph E. Janaro and Sumners De Witt L.
Additional contact information
Stephen E. Bechtold: College of Business, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306
Ralph E. Janaro: Department of Management, Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York 13676
Sumners De Witt L.: Department of Mathematics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306

Management Science, 1984, vol. 30, issue 12, 1442-1458

Abstract: This paper focuses upon the maximization of labor productivity through selection of the optimal number, duration, and placement of rest breaks. It is demonstrated that resolution of the limited validity associated with previous models leads to a mixed-integer quadratic programming formulation of this problem. Efficient analytic procedures are developed which allow solutions to be obtained in minutes using a hand-held calculator. Then, the characteristics, properties, and potential effectiveness of optimal solutions are examined through an illustration from an existing work environment. Issues relevant to the implementation of the models are presented in a summary of an initial experiment in which one of the models in this paper was used to select rest break policy. The results of this experiment indicated that the output achieved using the model's policy was 13% higher than the output achieved when the subjects used their own rest break policies. Several future research topics are also identified.

Keywords: production/scheduling: work studies; productivity; programming: integer; applications (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1984
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

Downloads: (external link)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.30.12.1442 (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:30:y:1984:i:12:p:1442-1458

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Management Science from INFORMS Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Asher ().