Human factors aspects in set-up time reduction

Abstract

The ability to produce products which continue to meet changing customer expectations requires flexibility within a manufacturing plant. Short set-up times are a key enabler for obtaining these flexible production systems. The purpose of this research is to identify human factors issues in set-up reduction and to develop a framework for assessing and improving the changeover from an ergonomics point of view. A Human Factors System Design methodology will be the starting point to identify how the existing human factors body of knowledge can be incorporated in the body of knowledge of design for fast changeover. This publication describes the first steps of this research. We identify the human factors gaps and deficiencies in the current set of design rules for fast changeover. © 2005 by International Federation for Information Processing.