Integración de la Calidad del Trabajo en el Cálculo de la Productividad: ¡Todo lo que Necesitas Saber!

Publicado el
December 21, 2023
Integración de la Calidad del Trabajo en el Cálculo de la Productividad: ¡Todo lo que Necesitas Saber!

Work productivity is a variable to be measured permanently to ensure the efficiency of a company. But what about quality? Today, it is essential to have a global vision to optimize a company's results. For this, integrating the quality of work into the productivity calculation seems indispensable. Find here the limits of productivity calculation and the advantages of integrating quality into these calculations. Also find the different tools to put in place to achieve this, such as software to calculate the productivity of workers.

Quality and Productivity: Definitions

Quality and productivity are the key words within any company, regardless of its size. With a well-done evaluation, you can have a precise vision of the health of your company and its long-term evolution.

Work Productivity

It is important to distinguish between yield and productivity. Yield corresponds to a work pace, an execution speed. Productivity, on the other hand, can be defined as the ratio between production and the resources used to obtain it. It is an important factor in our society, and the true reflection of a company's economic performance.

To calculate work productivity, divide the quantity of goods or services produced by the quantity of work implemented. This denominator can be evaluated in two different ways:

  • The number of hours worked, for hourly productivity;
  • The number of employees, for per capita productivity.

We can also calculate the productivity of capital within a company. This is defined as the ratio between what is produced and the capital used, in particular the technological means employed by the company. To obtain a complete picture of a firm's productivity, it is necessary to take into account these two factors: productivity of labor and productivity of capital. The interweaving of these two parameters is called "apparent labor productivity".

Work Quality

Work quality is difficult to define. It encompasses an indefinite number of points, such as: the quality of the products or services created; the quality of the processes used; the notion of a "job well done"; the quality of life at work.

This quality refers to the conformity of what is produced compared to what is expected, the standards, and the requirements defined upstream. It concerns all aspects of the company, touches all its areas and all its employees.

Problems Related to the Evaluation of Work Productivity

With the constant evolution of professional environments, calculating productivity becomes an arduous task. Traditional evaluation methods do not always allow taking into account all the complexity related to a company's environment. Indeed, it is, conventionally, the amount of work performed over a given period, which is used to measure productivity. This does not take into account the quality of the work performed. Thus, operational efficiency is not perceived as a whole, which represents a real problem.

It remains difficult today to measure quality at work. Areas such as quality assurance, customer satisfaction or continuous improvement are not easy to assess, and are often neglected in overall productivity calculations.

The evolution towards a more flexible professional environment also makes measurements more complex to carry out. This is particularly the case with telework. To effectively assess productivity in such a context, it is necessary to use innovative methods.

Thus, integrating the quality of work into the productivity calculation represents a real challenge for each company. New evaluation methods must be put in place, and it is important to consider the calculations in a more global way.

Why Integrate Work Quality into Productivity Measurement?

Any company wishing to optimize its operational performance must today take into account the quality of work in its productivity calculations. This integration offers many advantages.

Error Reduction

By applying strict quality criteria and integrating them into performance calculations, a company significantly reduces its risk of errors. Ensuring excellent quality monitoring guarantees efficient processes that leave little room for operational errors and therefore subsequent complaints. This monitoring saves the company time and money, which can be used for new investments and promising strategic initiatives.

Customer Satisfaction

Taking into account the quality of work in the evaluation of a company's productivity also represents an advantage for customers. By integrating qualitative processes and evaluating them regularly, the company delivers high-quality products or services. This greatly strengthens customer trust and loyalty. The image of the firm is thus improved, ensuring positive economic growth.

Employee Motivation

Valuing quality within a company is also positive for work teams. Indeed, working using qualitative processes, and creating products with real added value is a great source of motivation. Employees are often more engaged and invested in their position when they see that their work is highlighted. Recognizing and highlighting quality plays an essential role on staff morale, creates a favorable work environment, thus supporting productivity.

Strategies to Follow to Integrate Quality into the Calculation of Productivity at Work

Integrating the quality of work into the productivity calculation becomes essential for any company. This integration, which has many advantages, is however not easy to implement. To achieve this, different strategies can be mentioned.

First, it is essential to put in place specific quality criteria. Once these are defined, it is necessary to know how to evaluate them regularly and interpret the results. This quality monitoring must be carried out for all aspects of the company, from the beginning to the end of the work chain.

Using combined quality/productivity indicators also seems indispensable. Indeed, appreciating these two criteria at the same time allows measuring the overall performance of the company. Thus, instead of taking into account only marks of productivity (for example, a number of tasks completed), we also judge customer satisfaction, the error rate, etc.

To achieve a good integration of work quality in the evaluation of a company's performance, it is essential to raise awareness among all employees on this theme. It is necessary to make employees understand the importance of quality for productivity. Do not hesitate to offer staff training programs related to quality in general. Cultivating the sense of a job well done and overall quality can give excellent results and improve team productivity.

With these different strategies, it is possible to create a work environment where quality is fully integrated into the notion of productivity. Everyone benefits from it: the company which obtains better results, the employees who work in a positive context, and the customers who are more satisfied.

Tools to Measure Quality and Productivity in a Professional Environment

Software for evaluating quality at work is essential for effective measurements. With them, you can define quality criteria and evaluate them. This allows you to quickly understand the shortcomings of the company and determine the areas where it is necessary to progress. This type of software helps to make informed decisions, based on real-time data.

Other types of quality measurement tools can be used for a global evaluation of productivity. One can for example think of customizable dashboards that will combine traditional productivity metrics and quality indicators. Advanced data analysis tools allow a good understanding of the entirety of processes. This represents a real support for business leaders in improving their productivity by including quality at all levels.