Driver Productivity

The Innovation for Development Report 2010-2011:
Innovation as a Driver of Productivity and Economic Growth

Is the productivity measure of shipments per day per truck still useful? Are there alternatives that might be effective?

Yes, the productivity measure of shipments per day per truck is still useful so that Smith could get the ratio of shipment per day for one truck. For example, there are 24 trucks and each truck ships the items approximately 10 shipments per day and Smith knows the productivity ratio of each truck. It is better to improve the quality of service to the customer by knowing the customer’s ship times so that Smith could manage the schedule of the truck before operating. Besides that, smith could measure the productivity in terms of dollars per day per truck so that he knows the direct profit each month. The measuring based on dollar could tell him whether he could increase the cost for adding trucks and drivers.  

What, if anything, can be suggest to the management to reduce the daily variability in pickup call-ins? Can the driver be expected to be at several locations at once at 5:00 P.m.?

Leading Beyond Lean:
 The Seven Drivers of Productivity

The management could reduce the daily variability in pick up call – ins by managing the schedule of customer’s ship times. The management could upgrade their customer database and knowing the customer’s schedule. The software can be used for automatically populate the customer information. The driver cannot be expected to be at several locations at once at 5:00 P.M, the management could anticipate this by shorter the crossing ways for shipments to reduce the time consuming when shipping. The access to technology is important to minimize the miscommunication between the staff in office, driver and customer so that the driver knows all the information while they are in office, at the customer location or on the road.

How should the company improve the productivity of the drivers? Discuss

First the productivity of worker is depends on their health. For example, more than half of commercial drivers report regular tobacco use which increases their risk for heart disease, stroke, lung disease and cancer. Health is essential component for worker especially truck driver. It is important to introduce the health program that could improve health status of truck drivers. Second, the incentive by performance could be implemented to the driver to improve their motivation in doing working. Third, the proper training could be conducted for the improvement in work method and efficiency.

Beauty Makeup

References:

Concentra Newsroom, (2009). Fit to Drive: Improving Commercial Driver and Productivity. Retrieved 24^th January 2010, from website: http://www.concentra.com/Newsroom/Channels/Health-And-Wellness/Fit-To-Drive/default.aspx

Productivity Growth in Malaysia

Give 5 reasons why Malaysia is on the top three in terms of productivity level and growth?

1. Malaysia focuses in implementing the eighth Malaysian plan successfully and continues in the ninth Malaysian plan. The ninth Malaysian plan emphasis on the improvement of towards enhancing productivity and innovative capacity. During the Eighth Plan period, gross domestic product (GDP) in real terms grew at an average rate of 4.5 per cent per annum supported by domestic demand and exports. The productivity and efficiency enhancing by becoming more knowledge-based and the productivity factor contribution undertaken through programmes to upgrade skills and management capabilities, develop a more creative and skilled workforce, improve the level of educational attainment, intensify R&D and innovation activities and increase utilization of technology and ICT in all sectors of the economy. During the Ninth Plan period, macroeconomic management will focus on ensuring macroeconomic stability to maintain the economy on a sustainable growth path. Private domestic demand is expected to register a strong growth that will enable the Government to continue with its pragmatic fiscal management. An appropriate monetary policy will be implemented to promote growth and price stability.

Productivity Growth in the Manufacturing Sector:
Mitigating Global Recession

2. The productivity initiatives by the industries and pro – business policies adopted by the government that facilitated domestic business activities. The strong domestic consumption and investment to grow the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Malaysian economy by 6.3 % in 2007.The domestic consumption increased by more 11 % as a result of higher expenditures by both the public and private sectors. Malaysia also could manage the expansion in export of goods and services more than 4 %.

3. The high capacity utilization in manufacturing. The capacity utilization rate in the manufacturing sector remained high averaging 80 per cent per year. Growth was led by resource-based industries which recorded an average growth of 5.0 per cent per annum. The main contributors to growth were the chemical products, food processing, rubber products and paper product subsector. For non – resources based industries, the electronic subsectors remained the largest contributors. Besides the high capacity utilization, the growth of manufactured export of those products to china, India and Easter Europe reflects the sustained expansion in demand.

4. Productivity growth of the economic sectors. Manufacturing’s productivity to grow with high capacity utilization and the implementation of productivity and quality system. In the service industry, high productivity growth was in Finance and Transport sectors. In Agricultural sector, the continuous adoption of labor – saving technologies and good agricultural practices. In utilities sector, there are sustained demand for electricity and water. And the construction sector, strong demand for non – residential properties.

5. Competitive performance by consistently performed well in economic performance and business efficiency. In the population greater than 20 million categories, Malaysia was ranked at 4th position for business efficiency as an effort from the government in facilitating business operation. Malaysia was ranked 6th position in both the economic performance and government efficiency. Both the government’s pragmatic and flexible management approach have enabled the economy to raise its competitiveness in facing global challenges. In terms of labor cost competitiveness, the cost of producing one unit of product or service in Malaysia was lower by 0.7%, while other countries registered higher cost of production. In China, the unit labor cost had increased by 13.2%, Hong Kong (2.8%), Australia (2.8%), Norway (2.2.%), the USA (1.9%) and the United Kingdom (1.7%). The productivity growth of 4.2% achieved by Malaysia had led to sustained labor cost competitiveness.

Beauty Makeup

References:

Ninth Malaysian Plan 2006 – 2010: Macroeconomic Stability for Growth. (n.d). Retrieved January 7, 2010, from website: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/SpecialCoverage/RMK9/english/Chapter2.pdf.

Productivity report (2007). Malaysia’s Productivity Performance. Retrieved January 7, 2010, from website: http://www.mpc.gov.my/files/P&Q%20Glossary/Chapter1.pdf.