Affiliations: Department of Production Engineering, PSG College of
Technology, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India | Department of Mechanical Engineering, PSG College of
Technology, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India
Note: [] Address for correspondence: G. Madhan Mohan ME, Lecturer,
Department of Production Engineering, PSG College of Technology,
Coimbatore-641004, Tamilnadu, India. Tel.: +919842273264; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: Global competition in manufacturing sector demand higher
productivity levels. In this context, workers in this sector are set with high
output targets, leading to job strain. In addition to the strain, hazardous
conditions also prevail in some of the manufacturing processes like foundry
activities. This paper attempts to appraise the prevalence of job strain among
foundry shop floor workers in India with the help of Demands-Control
model [8]. In this study, data was collected through a survey using
49-item Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) [9], a widely used and
well-validated test for job strain. Then the data was subjected to statistical
analysis after ascertaining the reliability. This survey has revealed that
25% of workers in foundry were experiencing high job strain. Hazardous
working conditions, limited decision making authority, etc. appear to be the
main contributing factors for the higher levels of strain.
Keywords: Foundry, job strain, job content questionnaire (JCQ), demands-control model
