Productivity improvement opportunities at Navy public works activities

Abstract

This study identifies six principal opportunities for productivity improvement at Navy Public Works in-house maintenance activities: improving work assignment, increasing shop supervisor effectiveness, reducing long lunches and early quits (through understanding of work impediments as demotivational contributors), improving service order management, improving job quality and miscellaneous opportunities. Activity "productivity opportunity" self-evaluation questions and methods are provided for each. Opportunities for productivity improvement are developed from a review of twenty-six completed Public Works productivity studies. Contributors to poor productivity are summarized and cross-reference to their corresponding effects on the craft-person's time. Intrinsic task motivational theory is used to explain the widespread problem of craft-persons return for lunch to the shop. Key actions and results at specific Navy Public Works activities having documented productivity improvement are summarized.