How Can I Create an Effective Vigilance System for Better Shop Floor Relations?

Dear Friends,

I am working with a Japanese automobile MNC. The total manpower as of today is 900 employees, with 600 at the worker level. In order to maintain good industrial relations, I wish to design a vigilance system. Can anyone support me in preparing a vigilance design so that I can obtain the correct information about the workers on the shop floor?

I aim to establish an information system where I can receive reports on all industrial relations activities taking place on the shop floor.

Dear Friend,

Greetings. In the spirit of fair play, there cannot be "vigilance," but there can be "MIS." Of course, that does not rule out routine security measures. Similarly, the details you are seeking on productivity, behavior, etc., can be obtained from various documents such as daily production records, goods returned, goods re-returned, average daily consumption of raw materials, and alert documentation from the shop floor. This approach needs to be top-driven. The design may vary across different sections/departments and serve different purposes. The final picture will have to emerge within the Corporate Affairs division. This process obviously needs to be carried out judiciously and cautiously.

Regards,
abhirutu

Hi Abhirutu,

Thank you very much for the prompt reply. Actually, I have joined this company very recently, and I want to have a network to get information regarding workers' activities on the shop floor. I want any concerns from the workers' side to reach the HR department on time. Do you have a sample design/flow chart on the design for procuring information from the workers' side? Or can you forward me the MIS format you have with you?

Thanks

I have often seen both HR/production managers hire/place some stooges for seeking info. This undermines the very structure and lines of communication which HR seeks to build. Eventually, an HR manager is saddled with incompetents who meet over coffee/tea every now and then and seek favors too. Also, read:

a) "Code of Practice on Workplace Surveillance, UK"
b) Telecommunications (Lawful Business Practices and Interception of Communication) Regulations 2000
c) CTPAT by US Customs and Border Patrol
d) ISO 27001

Lastly, remember not to infringe on individual rights.

Surya