<![CDATA[Chicken meatball processing requires efficient operational workflow and optimized labor deployment to ensure high-grade finished goods in industrial manufacturing. Traditional meat processing research often focuses on formulation properties, leaving operational productivity bottlenecks in commercial production lines underexplored. This study evaluates the chicken meatball manufacturing line and labor productivity parameters at PT WX through structured field observations, interviews, and fishbone root-cause analysis. General Background Poultry-based processed products serve as a major source of animal protein with extended shelf stability in the food industry. Specific Background Industrial chicken meatball production involves sequential stages including raw material chilling, grinding, bowl-cutter emulsification, dual-stage boiling, vacuum packaging, and individual quick freezing. Knowledge Gap Empirical evaluations integrating unit operation tracking with root-cause labor productivity diagnostics in commercial meatball processing lines remain limited. Aims This investigation analyzes the complete industrial manufacturing process of chicken meatballs and identifies operational factors governing manpower productivity targets. Results Root-cause analysis via fishbone diagrams identified machinery downtime, skill variance, and environment temperature shifts as primary constraints, while time-motion calculations determined optimum manpower allocations reaching up to 2,520 kg per shift depending on packing speeds. Novelty This work delivers a comprehensive diagnostic framework connecting unit operation mechanics with quantitative labor productivity models in frozen meatball processing. Implications Establishing targeted equipment maintenance and standardized filling protocols provides an operational strategy for meat processing plants to optimize throughput and mitigate production delays. Key Findings Highlights Industrial chicken meatball manufacturing relies on sequential emulsification, dual boiling, and quick freezing to maintain product quality. Fishbone diagnostic mapping identifies machine downtime and skill disparity as core constraints in meeting target output. Quantitative manpower modeling establishes optimized shift capacities ranging from 1,470 kg to 2,520 kg based on filling speed configurations. Keywords : Chicken Meatballs, Meatball Production Process, Productivity, Fishbone Diagram, Quality Assurance]]>
