The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, APRIL 6th, 1925. THE HUMAN FACTOR IN INDUSTRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 April 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, APRIL 6th, 1925. THE HUMAN FACTOR IN INDUSTRY.

Some practical suggestions which should make for improved and increased output were made by c Dr Charles S. Myers, Director of the National Institute of Industrial Psychology, in the course of a lecture dealing with the human factor in industry, delivered to the Incorporated Accountants’ Students’ Society of London. Dr Myers discussed the human factor muter three heads—-

viz., needless cllort, insufficient interest and attention, and irritation. Needless clfort was shown to be mainly attributable to unsatisfactory layout of plant, defective appliances, bad conditions of ligiiting. ventilation, etc., and tbo adoption ol bad postures and movements. The 'lay-out of a plant might lie efficient from the mechanical side. but very un-

satisfactory from the physiological and psychological aspects. In the opinion of Dr Myers too many machines were designed with a total disiegnrd of these aspects. In one of the surface departments of a coal mine the introduction ot a new implement added enormously to its efficiency, and in a new margarine factory the inlio-

(!e.( tion of an improved implement reduced the worker’s movements by 19 per cent.., and iiis time bv 15 per edit. In eigtit departments of a large firm

increases of output averaging 2(1 per cent., and varying from 12 to 40 per cent., were obtained by improving the arrangements of material and by a better distribution of the work. Improvements m output varying trom 10 to 14 per cent, were also obtained by better illumination. Carotid instruction of the worker- in the best movements yielded still larger increases in output and reduction ol fatigue. Insufficient interest and attention were preventibie by improved selection of the woikcis, tfie introduction of suitable incentives, adequate supervision, and the avoidance of unduly long, uninterrupted spells of work. In regard to the third aspect of the human factor, irritation, Dr Myers pointed out that this "as caused not only hy felt injustice, but l,v needless flurry and l>v needless waiting. In two firms the Institute reduced the breakage of articles by 53 and 44 per cent., respectively, by removing the various sources ol the workers’ irritation and hindrance, ami bv improving the methods ol handling the fragile material. It is evident that by such attteiition to the human factor as Dr Myers suggests, not only is the quantity and quality of output improved, but an increase should also take place in the health and contentment of the workers. Strain and fatigue are lessened, absences tluough sickness become fewer, the mental atmosphere of the factory, warehouse and office is improved, and the labour turnover which, when large, involves considerable wastage of money and time, declines.