The research focused on X Convection, a medium-scale garment manufacturer in Cimahi City that produces ready-made clothing, particularly factory employee uniforms. The business was established in September 2017 and originated as a home-based garment operation. Its production activities include receiving orders, preparing garments, applying screen printing and embroidery, and conducting quality control.
The issue of productivity became particularly relevant because X Convection's production performance fluctuated during 2025. Production records from January to November showed that the company reached 100 percent of its production target in July and August. However, performance was substantially lower during several other months, with April recording the lowest productivity rate at 51.94 percent.
Why Work Procedures Matter
The researchers identified work procedures as one factor that could influence production performance. At X Convection, employees follow procedures covering different stages of production. These procedures are intended to keep tasks organized and reduce technical mistakes.
Interviews with the company's owner revealed several recurring errors when procedures were not followed consistently. Size specification errors occurred around one to three times per production process at the order-receiving stage. Errors involving screen-printing or embroidery placement occurred as many as five to seven times per production process, while missed stitching or product-detail inspections occurred around three to four times during a production process.
The survey nevertheless showed that employees generally viewed the company's work procedures positively. The overall average score for work procedures was 4.05, categorized as appropriate. Efficiency and orientation toward the parties served received the highest average scores, at 4.11, while measurability received the lowest score at 3.94.
Physical Workplace Also Plays a Major Role
The second factor examined was the physical work environment, including lighting, temperature, air circulation, noise, odors, decoration and cleanliness.
Preliminary observations identified several physical workplace problems at X Convection. Fabric and patterns were not always stored neatly in the pattern-making and cutting area. The sewing room was described as cramped, with machines positioned close together and cables and materials occupying parts of the workspace. In the finishing and quality-control area, piles of clothing were not clearly separated between items that had been inspected and those awaiting inspection.
Despite these observations, employees gave the physical work environment an overall average score of 4.07, categorized as good. Cleanliness received the highest score at 4.11, while temperature, humidity and air circulation received the lowest score at 4.00.
The researchers found that the physical work environment had a stronger statistical relationship with productivity than work procedures. The regression coefficient for the physical work environment was 0.321, compared with 0.217 for work procedures. Both relationships were statistically significant, with significance values below 0.001.
Productivity Was High, but Quality Can Still Improve
Employee productivity itself received an overall average score of 4.06, categorized as high. Timeliness was the strongest indicator, with an average score of 4.13, while work quality received the lowest score at 3.99.
Statistical testing confirmed that both factors individually had a significant positive relationship with employee productivity. The work-procedure variable recorded a t-value of 4.665, while the physical work environment recorded 5.246. Both exceeded the critical value used by the researchers.
When examined together, work procedures and the physical work environment also significantly influenced productivity. The model recorded an F-value of 26.974, compared with a critical value of 3.28. Most notably, the coefficient of determination was 0.620, meaning the two factors accounted for 62 percent of the variation in employee productivity. The remaining 38 percent was associated with other factors outside the scope of the research.
Implications for Garment Businesses
For garment businesses and other labor-intensive companies, the findings suggest that productivity is not determined solely by how hard employees work. The way tasks are organized and the conditions in which employees perform them also matter.
Cahyani and Lestari of Jenderal Achmad Yani University emphasize, in substance, that productivity is strengthened when employees have clear, structured procedures and a physical workplace that supports concentration and comfort. Their analysis also points to the need for continued improvement because high productivity does not automatically mean that every aspect of production is optimal.
The researchers recommend making each production stage easier to understand and measure, explaining the sequence of tasks before work begins, and conducting regular checks to ensure procedures are consistently followed. For the workplace, they recommend improving ventilation, keeping production areas orderly, and considering exhaust fans to improve air circulation.
They also recommend stronger quality controls at every production stage. Providing employees with clear examples of products that meet standards and correcting discrepancies immediately could help address the relatively lower work-quality score.
The study therefore provides a practical message for small and medium-sized manufacturers: improving productivity can begin with relatively fundamental changes, such as clearer workflows, better workplace organization, adequate ventilation and more consistent quality checks.
Author Profile
Windy Eka Puspita Cahyani — Jenderal Achmad Yani University, Indonesia. The journal identifies Cahyani as the corresponding author. Her academic degree and specific field of expertise are not stated in the published article, so no degree or specialization is added here.
Dian Lestari — Jenderal Achmad Yani University, Indonesia. The published article does not specify her academic degree or detailed field of expertise.
0 Komentar