| This research focuses on the possible effects of differences in work-in-process inventory on worker behavior. A laboratory experiment is used to collect data on the behavior of workers in high-and low-inventory situations. Results show that the feedback available from low inventory buffers and the interdependence required in low inventory work encourage the development of task based norms. Under these conditions co-workers exert peer pressure on slower workers to speed up. Because of these behavioral effects processing times in our low inventory experiment were not independent of the buffer size, of the buffer contents, or of the speed of co-workers. A model of the same line which uses these assumptions underestimated actual production by 19%. This work is important to the building and application of models of serial production line and to understanding the motivation of workers on those lines. |
