The Design of Manufacturing Systems Part 7 potx

Another approach may be to weight the criteria from 1 to 5. From these values, a mean value can be derived which may be additionally weighted according to the importance or relevance of the aspects considered. The criteria suggested here have been derived from the different theoretical concepts of work and organizational psychology as well as from observations in practice, as described in this report. The case study in Section 5.8 illustrates the application of these criteria. They are as follows: The Criteria for Assessing Technology in Use Criteria concerning the degree of automation achieved through implementing the new technology system: 1. Comprehensive workplaces: Are the tasks of the users of this technology integrated and compre- hensive and do they include straight-forward as well as challenging task components but avoid new burdens and stress? 2. Easy-to-use systems: Does the technology allow for easy use by different users? 3. Flexibility of use: Can the users use the system in different ways according to their individual competencies and skills? 4. Reality problem solving: Does the system allow the users to solve problems in reality, e.g., in the case of a system breakdown? 5. Work rhythm definition: Can the users at least partially define their own rhythm of work? 6. Working conditions: Does the new system contribute to improving conditions at work, e.g., health conditions? Criteria concerning the degree of networking implemented with the new technological system: 1. System reliability: Is the system designed to be reliable and safe? 2. User groups access: Does the system offer fair rules for different users concerning access and interventions? 3. System stability: Is the system stable even under conditions of user error? 4. Decentralized structures: Is the system structure sufficiently decentralized to allow independent operation of subsystems if needed? 5. System transparency: Is the system as a whole transparent to different user groups? 6. Freedom for human decisions: Does the system allow the users to decide their ways of working with the system? Criteria concerning the degree of dynamics of changes accompanying the implementation of the new technological system: 1. Ergonomic design: Does hardware and software design comply with basic rules of ergonomics, etc.? 2. System compatibility: Are the system components to be implemented compatible with the mental models of the prospective users? 3. System consistency: Does the system respond in a consistent and predictable manner if used in different situations and tasks? 4. Learning support: Does the system allow and support learning processes and further development of the users? 5. First use transparency: Is the process of learning how to use the system transparent to new users? 6. Societal impact: Does the new system avoid far-reaching changes of employment, qualifications, etc.? Criteria concerning the degree of formalization of human communication and cooperation to be accepted by the users of the new technological system: Human-human communication (closely related to the degree of automation): 1. Human communication: Does the system allow for and support continued human–human com- munication as well as human–technology communication? 2. Cooperative problem solving: Does the system expect the users to become involved in real, cooperative problem solving as well as cooperation through the technological network? © 2001 by CRC Press LLC . decisions: Does the system allow the users to decide their ways of working with the system? Criteria concerning the degree of dynamics of changes accompanying the implementation of the new technological. Does the system allow the users to solve problems in reality, e.g., in the case of a system breakdown? 5. Work rhythm definition: Can the users at least partially define their own rhythm of work? 6 report. The case study in Section 5.8 illustrates the application of these criteria. They are as follows: The Criteria for Assessing Technology in Use Criteria concerning the degree of automation