How can working conditions for employees in industry be improved?

The importance of improving working conditions in industry

Improving working conditions for employees is one of the key concerns in industry and forms part of the CSR agenda. Corporate social responsibility does indeed take working conditions into account as a factor with a strong bearing on companies' contribution to sustainable development challenges.

Quality of life and well-being at work genuinely multiply employee motivation and reduce absenteeism rates, which necessarily leads to an improvement in overall performance.

Maslow's hierarchy: identifying motivations at work

To identify the sources of this motivation — or demotivation — Maslow's hierarchy of needs can be used. It presents a ranking of fundamental needs. Behind every motivation lie needs. These needs are arranged in the pyramid: at the base are physiological needs, then moving upward, safety needs, belonging and affection needs, self-esteem needs, and at the very top, self-actualisation needs.

Demotivation stems from disappointment with one of these needs. To eliminate it, the task is therefore to identify which needs are not being met, so that working conditions can be adjusted accordingly.

In industry, employee dissatisfaction is generally caused by:

• A working environment that is ill-suited and uncomfortable,

• Physical constraints and a repetitive work pace.

For each of these, solutions exist.

How do you create a suitable and comfortable working environment for employees?

The first source of dissatisfaction, linked to a working environment that is ill-suited and uncomfortable, often calls for a review of the layout design, to offer employees a working environment in line with the ergonomics of the premises, with good-quality tools and appropriate industrial equipment. It is possible, for example, to invest in professional workbenches and improved workstations.

It is also essential to provide employees with a rest area, enabling them to switch off during their break and return in a better psychological and emotional state.

If you are planning significant changes, it is important to involve specialists.

How do you reduce the work pace and lessen physical constraints?

To reduce the physical demands of work, a value stream map can be produced. This mapping allows the entirety of value-chain operations to be observed in a straightforward way. By breaking down the process, it becomes possible to identify dysfunctions and thereby generate work with higher added value.

Furthermore, to eliminate repetitive tasks — which are often the root cause of musculoskeletal disorders — work automation can be adopted.

This automation encompasses a range of technologies that make operators' work easier and give rise to the concept of the augmented operator.

What is an augmented operator?

The concept of the augmented operator refers to an operator whose day-to-day work is simplified, and whose efficiency and autonomy are enhanced, through a range of technologies.

Among these technologies, one example is connected safety footwear. These shoes incorporate an electronic device embedded in the sole, which can detect a loss of verticality or a prolonged lack of movement. This provides additional protection for the wearer by detecting a fall and triggering the safety protocol by alerting first responders.

To protect operators exposed to constraints related to manual handling and load carrying, exoskeletons are also available, designed to reduce the physical load borne by the operator.

Innovations to improve operators' working conditions are becoming increasingly numerous on the market, and they complement existing Lean Management methods.

The 5S method for improved working conditions

Among these methods is the 5S method, one of the most effective approaches for addressing employee dissatisfaction. By ensuring the organisation, cleanliness, and safety of the workstation, it is indispensable when it comes to improving working conditions for employees in industry.

Implementing the 5S method involves:

• The diagnostic phase, during which current problems, areas for improvement, and associated challenges are identified.

• The preparation phase, during which a responsible person is appointed and must define the scope of application, a budget, and a provisional schedule.

• The launch phase, during which the method is presented to the teams. An assessment of the initial state is also carried out to establish a clear picture of the tidying steps required.

• The deployment phase, during which the rest of the teams are trained to apply the method correctly. During this step, gains are measured and communicated to demonstrate the value of the approach.

• The sustainability phase, during which the effective integration of operational practices is monitored.

The key ideas for improving working conditions

To summarise, improving working conditions for employees in industry involves the following series of actions:

• Providing technical solutions to create a more suitable working environment, through workspace reconfiguration or equipment replacement.

• Evolving work organisation to better distribute workloads and work pace.

• Providing solutions to reduce the physical demands of work, through appropriate technologies.

In all these initiatives, it is worthwhile to involve employees, so that everyone can voice what is working well and what is causing problems. For example, an anonymous "suggestion box" can be set up, where anyone can share their ideas.