I have a 10th grade education and an awful understanding of math, but while I was working I thought about ways to make our workplace (a scrapyard) more efficient. Things like installing water misters to keep the workers cool in the summer, which would make them work faster and more precisely as a result of the extra comfort. (Some scrapyards already have these, mine doesn't)
But how do you quantify that? How do you come up with the numbers that would say "Installing this would increase work efficiency by X%"? If someone could help me I'd appreciate it.
Camden Scott
you dont and you cant go back to school.
Isaiah Moore
You need to know how much more money would be made per day. Then use the formula:
100 x (new_amount_of_money - old_amount_of_money) / (old_amount_of_money)
Blake Wilson
Ehh I have a good job, union opportunities, and a small startup composing film scores. I know that education is important and beneficial, but I would rather learn about things I can apply to my world than unrelated academia that doesn't benefit me. Much respect to those who go down the uni route tho.
That makes sense. I could theoretically get those numbers by looking at how many more pounds of a particular metal we sell with the misters on. Would there be no way to estimate the gain-loss without evaluating the workloads post installation?
Liam Jenkins
read a book, go to school, watch a lecture series, do what you gotta do to get that knowledge. afterwards, you will cringe at how dumb the shit you are saying now is.
Connor Harris
yeah, go to school just means get learned. seriously if uni isnt for you read a fucking book.
Hunter Reyes
Unit analysis helps. Think lbs/hr for how much is moved. Ballpark it by using wider measuring frames - start with amount per day and divide by the working hours (normally 8).
Lbs/hr times $/lb = $lb/lbhr = $/hr
Do an experiment one day where the misters mysteriously fail. See how much is moved and compare.
As a warehouse I'm sure you get different prices so price alone can mislead your physical efficiency.
Out of curiosity why not use forklifts?
Aiden Lewis
basically, you need to set yourself a goal and come up with one or two numbers that reliably measure how well you are doing toward that goal. A common example in industries like yours is electricity usage, record how much energy you are using before you implement your new, efficient procedure and then record how much you are using after you implement it. If you are using less electricity, then your electricity saving procedure was successful and you have become more efficient. for something like your water mister proposal the obvious things to measure might seem to be worker output vs installation/maintenance costs for the misters, but dont forget that changes you make to workplaces can have multiple effects - some in very unexpected ways! Consider also looking into medical expenses (as the misters reduce the chance of heatstroke) and any damage you may cause to your scrap or equipment by spraying water everywhere.
Kayden Brooks
I'll actually try to get those numbers and see where it leads me. Thank you! And what do you mean about forklifts? We use them everyday haha
Those are great points to consider, thank you very much. That's a lot to consider and I would need some time to put the data together. Not to mention the ability to convince upper management of its benefits.
