As an operations manager, you know that you need to able to quantify the performance of your process. That means that you’ll need to have certain Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) in place, as well as the ability to gather data to establish process standards, measure productivity, monitor, and track process output rates, create production standards, and develop operations budgets.

Measuring the output of a production line per period is normal and accepted type of measurement. Industrial engineers and other management personnel find that these production type of measurements are important to manage the business, manage bonus-pay program, as well as being a fundamental step in any continuous improvement program.

In many industrial or manufacturing facilities, the labour force is often represented by a union. In these facilities where unions are in place, given that measurement and KPI’s are an important aspect of operations management, why do we need to understand why unions (organized labour) may be resistive of efforts to measure and track individual employee performance?