MACROERGONOMICS TO IMPROVE HUMAN AND TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE IN AGILE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS

The value of industrial ergonomics in traditional manufacturing environments is well established [1,2]. Agile manufacturing systems operate in complex, dynamic environments and require maximum flexibility of human operators. This paper provides a better understanding of agile environments through discussion of an empirical study of how time is best allotted to the personnel and technological subsystems. The paper also contributes to the design of agile systems by reporting on the empirical results of a laboratory study which investigated computer-supported collaborative work in concurrent engineering with differing personnel configurations.