A Participatory and Integrative Approach to Increase Productivity and Comfort in Assembly

Abstract

Manufacturers of lnanually assembled products are more and more forced to improve the flow of assernbly orders together with a lll~re efficient employment, in order to meet increasing demands on short delivery times, higb product variety, good quality and low manufacturing costs. At the same time, the human factor is increasingly important, for a well-motivated work force is needed more than ever. To improve assenlbly processes, an approach was developed and applied in various assembly companies. Goals of this approach are both a lead time reduction and an improvement of the assembly tasks in an ergonomic sense. Main elements of the approach are the active participation of the companies, the integration of Two basic disciplines: assanbly engineering and ergonomics, and its stepwise nature. The initial steps of the approach include the analysis of the assembly process by setting up an 'assembly process scheme', and the analysis of bottlenecks with regard to the flow of orders and ergonomics. Latter steps include the selection of improving measures, the implenxntation of these measures and the evaluation of the effects. This paper describes this approach and its application in two assembly companies: one producing relatively small products (magnetic stop valves) and the other making relatively large products (office furniture). In both companies the approach lead to a new design of the assembly process, a new factory lay-out including new work places, and another involvement of people in the assembling process.

Participatory ergonomics

“…These gains may be direct or indirect (to some extent systemic). It has long been suggested that end user participation in the design of equipment or workplaces will lead to the development of better design solutions, as the practical experience and expertise of end users is bought into the process (Imada 1991;St Vincent et al, 1997;De Looze et al, 2000). However it is important to clarify what is meant by 'better' design as, depending upon the product, the context and the participants, this may mean quite different things.…”