Which of the following factors would tend to reduce productivity?
improvements in workplace safety
reductions in labor turnover
more-inexperienced workers
reductions in the scrap rate
less variety in the product mix
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: More-inexperienced workers
Explanation:
Productivity is a measure of output per unit of input, and various factors can influence it. Among the given options, “more-inexperienced workers” is the factor that would tend to reduce productivity. Here’s why:
- Lower Efficiency – Inexperienced workers generally take longer to complete tasks because they lack familiarity with workflows, tools, and best practices. This slows down overall production.
- Higher Error Rates – Workers who are new to a job or industry are more prone to making mistakes. These errors can lead to defects, rework, and delays, all of which reduce overall productivity.
- Increased Supervision – Inexperienced workers require more oversight, training, and guidance from experienced employees and supervisors. This diverts resources away from direct production and slows down operations.
- More Downtime – Learning curves associated with new workers mean that production processes are interrupted more often. They may struggle with troubleshooting, operating machinery, or following standard operating procedures.
- Increased Turnover – Many inexperienced workers may leave their positions quickly due to difficulties in adapting or better opportunities elsewhere. High turnover requires additional time and costs to recruit and train new employees, further disrupting productivity.
Why the Other Factors Do Not Reduce Productivity:
- Improvements in workplace safety: Safer environments reduce workplace injuries and absenteeism, allowing workers to be more productive.
- Reductions in labor turnover: Keeping experienced employees reduces training costs and maintains efficiency.
- Reductions in the scrap rate: Less waste means more efficient use of materials and improved productivity.
- Less variety in the product mix: Standardizing products simplifies production processes, making them more efficient.
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