Efficiency (English spelling)

An index showing the technical effectiveness of production activities, and is usually simply called efficiency, which is the relative efficiency shown as a percentage comparing the standard and the actual results. Specifically, it is measured by machine efficiency, manufacturing efficiency, labor efficiency, etc. Machine efficiency is measured as the ratio of output to energy input, and is expressed as "energy efficiency 80%". Manufacturing efficiency is the ratio of the amount of necessary materials or their cost to the achievable standard, or the ratio of the amount of materials actually used or their cost to the achievable standard. Labor efficiency is the ratio of the actual amount of work to the achievable standard amount of work, but in this case, if the amount of work is expressed in hours, it is shown as the ratio of actual work time to standard work time. At the end of the 19th century, the efficiency of human work became an issue in the United States, and various measures to increase efficiency were promoted, which developed into scientific management. However, the subsequent advancement of mechanization and the systematization of production led to the demand for a broader index that includes the efficiency of individual tasks, and the focus shifted to the concept of productivity, but this does not mean that efficiency indicators became unnecessary.

[Mitsuo Morimoto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

生産活動の技術的有効性を示す指標で、通常は標準と実績を対比して百分比で示す相対能率をもって単に能率という。具体的には、機械能率、製造能率、労働能率などで測定する。機械能率は、エネルギーの投入に対する産出の割合でとらえ、「エネルギー効率80％」のように表す。製造能率は、必要資材量ないしその費用と実現可能な標準との比率、あるいは、実際使用資材量ないしその費用と実現可能な標準との比率をいう。労働能率は、実際作業量と実現可能な標準作業量の比率であるが、この場合、作業量を時間で表せば、実際作業時間と標準作業時間の比率で示される。19世紀末、アメリカで人間作業の能率化が問題になり、能率増進の諸策が推進され、それが科学的管理に発展した。しかし、その後の機械化の高度化と生産のシステム化は、個別作業の能率を内包する、より広い指標を求めるようになり、生産性の概念に重点が移行したが、能率の指標が不要になったわけではない。

［森本三男］

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