Macroergonomic Analysis and Design for Improved Safety and Quality Performance

Abstract

Macroergonomics, which emerged historically after sociotechnical systems theory, quality management, and ergonomics, is presented as the basis for a needed integrative methodology. A macroergonomics methodology was presented in some detail to demonstrate how aspects of microergonomics, total quality management (TQM), and sociotechnical systems (STS) can be triangulated in a common approach, in the context of this methodology, quality and safety were presented as 2 of several important performance criteria. To demonstrate aspects of the methodology, 2 case studies were summarized with safety and quality performance results where available. The first case manipulated both personnel and technical factors to achieve a “safety culture” at a nuclear site. The concept of safety culture is defined in INSAG-4 (International Atomic Energy Agency, 1991). as “that assembly of characteristics and attitudes in organizations and individuals which establishes that, as an overriding priority, nuclear plant safety issues receive the attention warranted by their significance.” The second case described a tire manufacturing intervention to improve quality (as defined by Sink and Tuttle, 1989) through joint consideration of technical and social factors. It was suggested that macroergonomics can yield greater performance than can be achieved through ergonomic intervention alone. Whereas case studies help to make the case, more rigorous formative and summative research is needed to refine and validate the proposed methodology respectively.     

Macroergonomics and Total Quality Management: How to Improve Quality of Working Life?

Abstract

In this paper, we present a macroergonomic model of work design that is applied and tested to examine Total Quality Management (TQM) in the public sector. According to the model, TQM can influence different aspects of work design and quality of working life (QWL), Questionnaire data collected in 2 public sector organizations in the USA show that TQM can have both positive and negative impact on work design and QWL. The main positive impact of TQM was found on job content, job control and participation, and social relationships. The main negative impact of TQM was on workload, uncertainty, and clarity of job duties. The impact of TQM on QWL was mixed. Our results show that the impact of TQM on work design and QWL varied very much across the 6 participating departments, as well as within the departments. Further research is warranted to assess the human impact of TQM, in particular research on the linkage between various aspects of TQM, on one hand, and work design and QWL, on the other hand.     

Ergonomic design and evaluation of a diagnostic ultrasound transducer holder

Background. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are injuries and disorders that affect the body’s movement and musculoskeletal system. Awkward postures represent one of the major ergonomic risk factors that cause WMSDs among sonographers while working with an ultrasound transducer. This study aimed to design and evaluate a new holder for the ultrasound transducer. Materials and methods. In the first phase a new holder was designed for the transducer, considering design principles. Evaluation of the new holder was then carried out by electrogoniometry and a locally perceived discomfort (LPD) scale. Results. The application of design principles to the new holder resulted in an improvement of wrist posture and comfort. Wrist angles in extension, flexion, radial deviation and ulnar deviation were lower with utilization of the new holder. The severity of discomfort based on the LPD method in the two modes of work with and without the new holder was reported with values of 1.3 and 1.8, respectively (p?<?0.05). Conclusion. Overall, this study indicated that applying ergonomics design principles was effective in minimizing wrist deviation and increasing comfort while working with the new holder.     

Workplace Design for Manual Assembly Tasks: Effect of Spatial Arrangement on Work-Cycle Time

This article reports the results of an experimental study undertaken to investigate the effect of spatial arrangement of assembly board and parts bin in the normal work area on work-cycle time in manual assembly tasks. Operator performance was measured in terms of average work-cycle time taken to complete a laboratory-simulated manual assembly task. Results showed that both location and distance factors had significant effects on work-cycle time. Effect of the size of parts was also investigated in the study. Average observed work-cycle times were compared with the methods–time measurement (MTM) values. Repetitive manual assembly tasks are common in industry and are thought to lead to musculoskeletal disorders. The results of this research are important for ergonomic design of the workplace for assembly tasks, which would help to enhance operators’ efficiency.     

某大型商场性能化防火设计评估

利用FDS、Pathfinder软件对某大型商业建筑防火安全性能进行评估,实测火灾荷载数据,探究发生火灾情况下,能否满足人员安全疏散的要求。评估发现,大型商业建筑在采用一系列消防安全措施后,在消防设施正常工作情况下,疏散宽度可在现行规范规定基础上作适当放宽。     

Social sustainability and neighbourhood design: an investigation of residents' satisfaction in Delhi

Social and environmental goals are often mutually reinforcing. Urban forms may encourage social sustainability as well as social inclusion or may have the potential to create areas of crime and social exclusion. The issues of relationship between sustainable development and urban form have given birth to new paradigms of design approach such as new urbanism, the compact city and the eco-city. This paper examines the impact of urban form on social sustainability at the neighbourhood level. It seeks to better understand the relationship between urban form and social sustainability by comparing three neighbourhoods with dissimilar urban forms in Delhi, India. Household surveys and observation surveys in these three neighbourhoods were conducted, and it was found that the urban form of a neighbourhood plays a very important role in creating a socially sustainable residential neighbourhood. The study established that social interactions within the communities are higher when dwelling units are placed around the public realm or common open space. The study demonstrated that provision of high quality and well-located open space at the precinct level, mixed land use and good accessibility to the public realm and social infrastructure play an important role in increasing the social sustainability of the neighbourhood.     

The Concepts of Energy,Environment, and Cost for Process Design

Abstract

The process industries (specifically, energy and chemicals) are characterized by a variety of reactors and reactions to bring about successful process operations. The design of energy-related and chemical processes and their evolution is a complex process that determines the competitiveness of these industries, as well as their environmental impact. Thus, we have developed an Enviro-Energy Concept designed to facilitate sustainable industrial development. The Complete Onion Model represents a complete methodology for chemical process design and illustrates all of the requirements to achieve the best possible design within the accepted environmental standards. Currently, NOx emissions from industrial processes continue to receive maximum attention, therefore the issue problem of NOx emissions from industrial sources such as power stations and nitric acid plants is considered. The Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) is one of the most promising and effective commercial technologies. It is considered the Best Available Control Technology (BACT) for NOx reduction. The solution of NOx Emissions problem is either through modifying the chemical process design and/or installing an end-of-pipe technology. The degree of integration between the process design and the installed technology plays a critical role in the capital cost evaluation. Therefore, integrating process units and then optimizing the design has a vital effect on the total cost. Both the environmental regulations and the cost evaluation are the boundary constraints of the optimum solution.     

地面风场风速测量标准装置需求与设计

针对地面风场中风速测量仪器计量测试的需求,提出了风速测量标准装置的组成及性能指标设计要求,详细分析了风速测量标准装置各个重要部件的设计关键技术,结果表明该设计科学合理。     

商业建筑营业厅疏散楼梯总宽度设计与计算

依据经建生等人的观点,在商场营业厅人员换算系数及百人疏散指标这两个参数不变的情况下,商场营业厅疏散楼梯总宽度设计值取决于营业厅的面积折算值,并建议地上商业建筑的取值为0.5～0.7.研究表明,将营业厅面积折算值应用于商业建筑设计得出的楼梯间总宽度偏大.本文基于安全且经济地完成防火设计任务的理念,首先从调整商场营业厅面积折算值和将自动扶梯宽度计入疏散楼梯总宽度的角度进一步完善大型商场营业厅疏散楼梯总宽度设计,使其更趋于合理;然后应用火灾模拟软件及人员疏散时间公式进行验算,证明人员疏散是安全的,即本文提供的两种方法是可行的,从而为<建筑设计防火规范>的修编提供参考.     

某高速数据解调终端分系统的可靠性定量设计

可靠性与产品的其它特性一样,是工程设计的一项重要参数。电子行业的可靠性数据指出：设计原因是产品不可靠的最重要的原因。本文针对某高速数据解调终端分系统特别高的可靠性要求,分析了一种比较复杂的可靠性模型,并从理论上给出了完整的可靠性设计方法和预计结果,解决了困扰类似电子系统可靠性定量设计的问题。