Training, Work Environment, and Employee Productivity: A Case Study of Sewing Line Operations in an Indonesian Footwear Manufacturing Firm

Abstract

Employee productivity is a critical factor in ensuring competitiveness within labor-intensive manufacturing industries, particularly in developing countries. This study aims to examine the effects of training and work environment on employee productivity in sewing line operations at an Indonesian footwear manufacturing firm. A quantitative research design was employed, with data collected from 65 employees working in sewing line 106 using an online questionnaire measured on a five-point Likert scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS through validity and reliability tests, normality testing, Pearson correlation analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, and hypothesis testing using t-tests and an F-test. The results indicate that training has a positive and significant effect on employee productivity, demonstrating that skill development and task-specific learning play a crucial role in improving performance in labor-intensive production settings. The work environment is also found to have a significant positive effect on employee productivity, highlighting the importance of physical and psychosocial workplace conditions in supporting employee performance. Furthermore, the simultaneous analysis confirms that training and work environment jointly contribute significantly to employee productivity. These findings suggest that productivity improvement in sewing line operations requires an integrated approach combining continuous training initiatives with supportive workplace conditions. The study contributes to the human resource management and productivity literature by providing empirical evidence from a production-line-level analysis in a developing-country manufacturing context. Practical implications are offered for manufacturing managers seeking to enhance productivity in labor-intensive industries.