| 1. |
- Brolin, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Kitting as an information source in manual assembly
- 2012
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Ingår i: Advances in Ergonomics in Manufacturing. - : CRC Press. - 9781439870396 - 9780429107603 - 143987039X ; , s. 346-353
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In manual assembly, a strategy to meet the goal of efficient production is the increased use of kitting as a material supply principle. Even though kitting is already implemented in industry, there are still uncertainties regarding the effects of introducing kits, particularly from a human factors perspective.This paper presents initial steps in the development of a method to be used for the evaluation of kitting. This from an information source point of view and for studying effects related to productivity and quality. The methodology is projected to act as a foundation for how to carry out a subsequent comprehensive case study. The purpose of the case study is to explore how kitting affects the cognitive workload compared to the ordinary material rack combined with part numbers used in the current manufacturing industry. This is done by measuring productivity; time spent on assembling a product, and quality; number of assembly errors. One step in the methodology development process, which is described in this paper, was to conduct a pilot study, primarily to test the methodology related to the selection of measurement parameters, as well as for getting experiences from running the methodology with real test subjects.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Harlin, Ulrika, et al.
(författare)
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Flexible balancing of assembly systems and its impact on performance and human factors – a scenario-based analysis
- 2013
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Ingår i: Proceedings of NES 2013, 45th Nordic Ergonomics & Human Factors Society conference, Iceland, August 2013. - 9789979723974
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Increased production complexity challenges traditional methods for planning and preparation of assembly. This paper addresses alternative approaches for assembly line balancing and an assembly plant area was studied in a cross-disciplinary scenario-based analysis. Results show that the complexity in products, operations, flow, and organisation increases setting new demands on developing line balancing methods, including meeting the requirements and understanding the impact, e.g. competences, organization, support functions. Further research is suggested for increase knowledge of what impact different line balancing concepts has on performance, human work and working conditions as well as development of strategies and guiding principles for dynamic planning.
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| 4. |
- Kolbeinsson, Ari, et al.
(författare)
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Context aware interruptions : Existing research and required research
- 2014
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Ingår i: Advances in Cognitive Engineering and Neuroergonomics. - : AHFE. - 9781495121012 ; , s. 260-272
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Companies in various fields are developing information systems that are supposed to show information in a context sensitive manner. This involves modifying user interfaces based on the current activity and location of the user. The research that exists for context aware, task aware, and location aware systems come mostly from research in the office environment and using stationary work computers using standard mouse and keyboard-operated systems. Other environments, such as manufacturing environments, have not received the same research attention, and therefore research is required to see whether existing theories and frameworks apply to the manufacturing domain. Adding to this, context aware systems are now being created for new classes of devices such as mobile and wearable devices, to be used in multiple domains. All this requires an investigation and validation of older research, and shows how the research of the basic human factors surrounding new devices and domains has fallen behind the development of the devices themselves. This paper examines shortly how recent changes advances in technology affect what is required from the field of interruption research, as well as what is needed to support other domains than the office environment.
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| 5. |
- Lindblom, Jessica, 1969-, et al.
(författare)
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Towards a framework for reducing cognitive load in manufacturing personnel
- 2014
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Ingår i: Advances in Cognitive Engineering and Neuroergonomics. - : AHFE. - 9781495121012 ; , s. 233-244
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The interest in cognitive aspects of human performance has dramatically increased in recent years in manufacturing, complementing the area of physical ergonomics, and the expanded focus on cognitive aspects may offer significant insights and contributions to industrial domains. A considerably increased interest has been directed at the role and effects cognitive load has on human performance, and ultimately on production outcome. The main question addressed is: How can an understanding of cognitive load in manufacturing lead us to design better workplaces for the personnel at the shop floor? To answer this question, we have to consider how technology interacts with work environment and with human cognition from a systems perspective. Technology should be considered a resource in the design of a better working environment, aid those activities for which we are poorly suited cognitively, and enhance those cognitive skills for which we are ideally suited. This has resulted in a potential framework of factors that might have impact on high cognitive load, consisting of three levels; internal factors, external factors, and activity space. The initial framework focuses primarily on the former factors, identifying risks where a high cognitive load might lead to difficulty of work, negatively affecting production outcome.
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| 6. |
- Thorvald, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Applying cognitive science to digital human modelling for user centred design
- 2012
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Ingår i: International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation. - : InderScience Publishers. - 1742-5549. ; 3:1, s. 90-106
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To build software which, at the press of a button, can tell you what cognition-related hazards there are within an environment or a task, is probably well into the future if it is possible at all. However, incorporating existing tools such as task analysis tools, interface design guidelines and information about general cognitive limitations in humans, could allow for greater evaluative options for cognitive ergonomics. The paper discusses previous approaches to the subject and suggests adding design and evaluative guiding in digital human modelling that will help a user with little or no knowledge of cognitive science to design and evaluate a human-product interaction scenario.
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| 7. |
- Thorvald, Peter
(författare)
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Comparing the use of article numbers to alternate information syntaxes
- 2013
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Ingår i: Proceedings of NES 2013, 45th Nordic Ergonomics & Human Factors Society conference, Iceland, August 2013. - 9789979723974
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Using article numbers as identifiers in industry is a well-established practice. However, previous investigations have indicated, although failed to confirm, shortcomings in this tradition when used in human based assembly. This paper will report findings from an experimental study where subjects were asked to perform a reaction test designed to test the response to different types of syntaxes. These syntaxes where article numbers (control), symbols, and names of famous figures. Results show that subjects were able to significantly faster identify a trigger and respond accordingly when dealing with triggers with semantic content (symbols and names) than with article numbers.
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| 8. |
- Thorvald, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Initial development of a cognitive load assessment tool
- 2014
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Ingår i: Advances in Cognitive Engineering and Neuroergonomics. - : AHFE. - 9781495121012 ; , s. 223-232
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Interest in cognitive or mental workload has over the last couple of years increased drastically from a manufacturing application perspective. More and more, people are becoming aware of the cognitive limitations that may have great impact on production outcome. The more easily observable area of physical ergonomics has been successfully investigated for a long time and it would seem as though focus has broadened to also include cognitive ergonomics. Considering the effects that a large cognitive load has on human performance, knowledge regarding the role of the cognizing human in a manufacturing environment could potentially have significant effect on production outcome (i.e. quality and productivity). With this in mind, developing and using methods and tools for assessment of the cognitive burden associated with particular tasks or workstations should be and is of substantial interest to the manufacturing industry. Whatever assessment methods exist in the scientific literature today are almost exclusively expert tools where significant expertise in the area of cognitive ergonomics/psychology/science is required. This paper reports parts of the development process and initial version of a non-expert tool for assessment of cognitive load in manual production environments, primarily manual assembly.
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| 9. |
- Thorvald, Peter
(författare)
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Presenting Information in Manual Assembly
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Ever since industrialization, manufacturing companies have competed with each other in trying to make the best and the cheapest product and the automotive industry is definitely no exception. The ‘arms race’ between truck and car manufacturers has pushed manufacturing technology and production practice to where it is today. However, whereas companies have traditionally competed with the engineering excellence and technology of their products, the human effort in production is often neglected. After all, there are still many tasks that require the flexibility and intelligence of a human worker.This thesis focuses entirely on the information context of assembly workers. It investigates and discusses their general information behaviour in terms of information need, syntax of information, information sources and technology as well as basic cognitive abilities used to utilize information such as attention and memory. The thesis presents relevant literature on the subject of information behaviour and pinpoints potential hazards of information design in manual assembly. It also identifies three hypotheses that suggest improved productivity and quality of work as a result of certain changes in the information landscape. One hypothesis deals with the layout of information, a second deals with the syntax used to identify parts and a third deals with the information medium used to convey information.Analysis of empirical data gathered shows, among other things, that using unstructured and batched information favours productivity of work; using a syntax with semantic content as opposed to traditional article numbers without any semantic content also improves productivity of work; and using a mobile information unit betters the quality of work.The purpose of the thesis is to present the beginnings of a road map towards the greater understanding of information presentation in manual assembly. As previous research on this application area has been scarce, it draws upon existing theories found in other sciences, primarily cognitive science and its applications such as Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), information theory and human error.?
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| 10. |
- Thorvald, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Syntax and Sequencing of Assembly Instructions
- 2012
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Ingår i: Advances in Usability Evaluation. - : CRC Press. - 9781466560543 - 9781466560550 ; , s. 266-275
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Minimalism of design is a concept often found in Human-computer interaction (HCI). It is a concept that emphasizes the presentation of as little information as possible to reduce the perceptual strain and visual search of the subject. However, in a manufacturing context, such as in manual assembly, state of the art information presentation is rarely minimalistic. Rather, organizations tend to push out as much information as possible without necessarily concerning themselves with how this information is presented to, or perceived by, the worker. This leads to a situation that is far from ideal from an HCI perspective, likely to reduce human performance and wellbeing, in turn negatively affecting overall production system performance. Obviously, there are several potential ways of addressing this issue. Perhaps the most evident way is to simply reduce the amount of information that is presented and only present the essentials. This paper will investigate and discuss how information presentation can be minimized without reducing the information content through information syntax and layout.
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