Impact of material flow policies and goals on job outcomes.

A manual production line was examined for effects of different material flow policies and 3 different goal-setting policies. The line used a push system, where workers work at their own pace (assuming available work ) and pass work to the next station as soon as the work is completed, and a pull system, where workers pass work only when the next worker needs it. Three different goal-setting policies involved no specified goals, individual goals, or group goals confounded with monetary incentives and feedback. Measurements were taken from unobtrusive videotaping and worker questionnaires. Analyses indicated productivity increased approximately 25% when group goals were matched to a pull policy (compared to a push policy with no specified goals). Other results relating to productivity and job satisfaction are discussed.