Effects of a computer-based process planning system on an ‘intercompany transport’ work system

Abstract

A computer based disposition system for the organisation of interfactory transport is presented. Based on a travelling salesman algorithm and further modules, it reduces the distances between following transport orders significantly. The effects on the work and in particular on stress and strain of the employees in this system are compared with other results in the literature and field studies by work analysis and their clusters. The manual transshipment (better stowing) of cargo is identified as critical in the sense of a possible violation of tolerable boundaries. Using an approach for the determination of marginal values, first it is shown, that the increase of heart rate during work depends on the mass of transshipped cargo as well as on the handling rate and can be predicted according to these stressors. Possibilities for the determination of required relaxation allowances are shown. On the basis of the results of these studies an ergonomic work area is defined, in which the demand for maximum performance and recognition of steady state are fulfilled. The planning parameters for handling of cargo of a chemical factory are determined as standard times, regarding the overlapping of static and dynamic muscular work, which is often found in the reported manual operations.

Keywords:

• Manual loading and stowing
• Handling rate
• Heart rate
• Performance
• Cargo mass.