Implantation of a productivity improvement program [Implantação de um programa de melhoria da produtividade]

Abstract

The continuous search to improve productivity leads organizations to rationalize and manage better their available resources. The benefits are huge and recognized. But, each organizational component must be engaged to reach better productivity levels, helping the whole organization result. And within this context, the present study was developed. It concerns about the results analysis of a productivity improvement program implemented in a physical and chemical analysis lab of a petroleum refinery, located in São Paulo state. Three aspects were analyzed: management adjust of lab labor, costs minimization and client service improvement. The methodology of this program was based on PDCA Cycle and also on Productivity Cycle. Five productivity measures were used to follow the program analysis, with two physical indexes, related to labor, and three monetary indexes, related to labor, materials, and service. It was used a production measure as well, the standard time applied in assays, focused in the client service. These indexes were calculated monthly, before and after the productivity program start. Than, the results of these two periods were compared and analyzed. The conclusion was that the introduction of the productivity program reached partially the expected goals, bringing positive results as the better profitability of laboratory labor and the better attendance for laboratory clients. Related to costs, the benefit of interrupting the labor costs increase tendency was obtained, but it is still necessary to continue with this program, in order to pursue better results.