Workload analysis using Modified Full Time Equivalent (M-FTE) and NASA-TLX methods to optimize engineer headcount in the engineering services department

Abstract With the increasing number of project initiatives, requests for engineering technical assistance are also increased. This raises a problem in the Engineering Services department which is uneven project workloads assigned among engineers, while there are no standard tools yet used to calculate accurate workload. To achieve maximum engineering productivity and performance, this study conducted to calculate engineer’s physical and mental workload. To calculate physical workload, the modified Full Time Equivalent (M-FTE) method is used, where engineer’s performance rating and allowance factors are also used to combine with the basic FTE calculation method. Estimate hours divided according to project’s level of complexity are converted into an index of FTE categories, i.e. underload, normal, and overloaded. The NASA-TLX method is used to get mental workload subjectively based on the average weight rating of six indicators. FTE index result shows adequate number of electrical engineers where half of them can still be assign to new project, while most of the instrument engineers already overloaded. Engineer’s mental workload from NASA-TLX result shows an average WWL (Weighted Workload) up to 81.72, which categorized as ‘Very High’ and corresponds to the nature of projects that always expected to be on schedule with high quality result.