A field study of worker productivity improvements.

This paper describes the results of an experimental industrial field study conducted to improve worker productivity through various interventions in a repetitive production task performed under ergonomic working conditions. Worker productivity was found to improve most as a result of participative standard-setting with feedback and monetary incentives. In general, standard-setting with feedback, with or without monetary incentives, improved worker productivity. The performance without interventions was far below the normal standard. It was concluded that under good working conditions, challenge and incentives may be advantageously applied to improve worker productivity in industry.