Human Resource Productivity Measurement in a Cement Company in Rivers State

This study measures and analyses human resource productivity in a cement manufacturing company in Rivers State, South South Nigeria, applying industrial engineering metrics to assess the effectiveness of the existing workforce relative to production output targets. Labour productivity measurement in capital-intensive industries such as cement manufacturing provides management with data to inform workforce planning, training investment, and incentive structure decisions. This research employs a multi-indicator productivity measurement framework incorporating output-per-labour-hour ratios, value-added per employee calculations, and absenteeism-adjusted workforce utilisation rates. Data were compiled from the human resources and production departments covering twenty-four months of operational records, supplemented by structured interviews with department heads and shift supervisors. Results reveal that labour productivity in the cement grinding section outperforms the kiln burning section by thirty-four percent on an output-per-labour-hour basis, attributed to the higher degree of automation in the grinding circuit relative to the kiln operation. Absenteeism rates are highest in the packing section, correlating with elevated physical workload and noise exposure data documented in parallel safety monitoring records. Recommendations include reviewing shift rotation equity in the packing section, introducing performance-linked incentive pay, and conducting a skills gap analysis to inform targeted training investment. Keywords: labour productivity, cement manufacturing, workforce utilisation, Rivers State, human resource management