Title: Optimal production output and frequency of rest-breaks for a worker subjected to fatigue

Authors: Adel E. Alshayji; Mohammad A. Darwish; Khaled A. Alali

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Petroleum, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969, 13060, Safat, Kuwait ' Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, College of Engineering and Petroleum, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969, 13060, Safat, Kuwait ' Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, College of Engineering and Petroleum, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969, 13060, Safat, Kuwait

Abstract: It is reported by many researchers that the quality of a produced item deteriorates and work-related incidents increase when a worker is subjected to high level of fatigue at the workplace. As a direct consequence, the daily production yield of the worker decreases which, in turn, reduces the profit of a company. Some authors suggested short breaks at workplace so that the worker overcomes fatigue and improve productivity. In this paper, we mathematically study this relationship and develop a model that finds the optimal work-rest schedule such that the daily production output of a worker is maximised. We assume that the worker fatigue increases exponentially during work. Unlike the models used in the literature, the reduction in the worker fatigue level is modelled by utilising concepts in the preventive maintenance engineering literature. This simplifies the solution method significantly.

Keywords: operations research; production; worker safety; rest-breaks; worker fatigue; exponential fatigue function.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOR.2022.125717

International Journal of Operational Research, 2022 Vol.45 No.1, pp.125 - 139

Received: 20 Jun 2019
Accepted: 09 Jan 2020
Published online: 27 Sep 2022 *

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