Work System Design Research Articles

Towards Holistic Functional Task Analysis

ABSTRACTTask analysis (TA) can contribute to work systems design, accident investigation, risk assessment, human error identification, planning, and training. Despite the advantages of existing sequential and hierarchical methods, they decompose tasks into their structure and focus on the order in which tasks are accomplished. They do not trace all interactions among elements/subtasks/operations at different levels. As the complexity of tasks increases, not keeping track of all interactions may result in poor, unwanted outcomes. This research introduces a different approach to TA that decomposes tasks into their constituent functions, describes the functionality of the overall work system, traces (dynamic nonlinear) interactions among functions, and highlights the role of functional variability in forming emergent outcomes. This approach to TA is called functional task analysis (FTA). A case study on nursing work was used to demonstrate the suitability of the FTA approach. The findings of this study show that the FTA approach contributes to task modeling by building a nonsequential, nonhierarchical functional model of a complex task considering dynamic, nonlinear interactions among functions. The FTA also contributes to task description by explaining different ways a task can be accomplished. It also increases the understanding, interpretation, and analysis of how changes in work conditions shape good/acceptable and poor/unacceptable outcomes. The FTA can complement the TA by adding some aspects, including functionality, nonlinearity, dynamics, and emergence, that the TA does not normally consider. The findings highlight how the functional approach to TA can be deployed as an alternative (or complement) to other task analysis methods.

Debiasing Judgements Using a Distributed Cognition Approach: A Scoping Review of Technological Strategies.

To review and synthesise research on technological debiasing strategies across domains, present a novel distributed cognition-based classification system, and discuss theoretical implications for the field. Distributed cognition theory is valuable for understanding and mitigating cognitive biases in high-stakes settings where sensemaking and problem-solving are contingent upon information representations and flows in the decision environment. Shifting the focus of debiasing from individuals to systems, technological debiasing strategies involve designing system components to minimise the negative impacts of cognitive bias on performance. To integrate these strategies into real-world practices effectively, it is imperative to clarify the current state of evidence and types of strategies utilised. We conducted systematic searches across six databases. Following screening and data charting, identified strategies were classified into (i) group composition and structure, (ii) information design and (iii) procedural debiasing, based on distributed cognition principles, and cognitive biases, classified into eight categories. Eighty articles met the inclusion criteria, addressing 100 debiasing investigations and 91 cognitive biases. A majority (80%) of the identified debiasing strategies were reportedly effective, whereas fourteen were ineffective and six were partially effective. Information design strategies were studied most, followed by procedural debiasing, and group structure and composition. Gaps and directions for future work are discussed. Through the lens of distributed cognition theory, technological debiasing represents a reconceptualisation of cognitive bias mitigation, showing promise for real-world application. The study results and debiasing classification presented can inform the design of high-stakes work systems to support cognition and minimise judgement errors.

Towards human-centric warehousing: the impact of rack configuration and cognitive demands on order picking performance

Within warehouse logistics processes, design concepts and management decisions regarding operations systems determine the demands placed on human operators. While the literature proposes that human-centric work system design positively affects the operator, the impact on operator performance remains under-explored. We analyse the case of a German retail warehouse where the shelf numbering follows the pickers' walking direction from right to left. However, all human order pickers working in this system are familiar with a left-to-right writing system due to their schooling and training. Because cognitive psychology proposes that writing system direction impacts spatial orientation in goal-oriented visual search, we are motivated to explore the interplay of rack configuration and human cognitive demands. We ground our mixed-effects model on archival data, including 470,968 storage location visits. Our results indicate that order pickers work 18.7% faster when picking items starting from the left side of the shelf compared to starting their visual search from the right side. Our findings suggest that human search strategies in warehousing operations are influenced by attention templates like writing direction on a similar level as by system design elements of the warehouse itself. This insight underscores the potential for diversified future human-centric design approaches in warehouse logistics.

Assessing organizational framework conditions for the successful, human-centered introduction of AI applications

AbstractAs part of WIRKsam Competence Center, the authors aim to identify and improve organizational conditions in companies that are conducive to the successful introduction of AI technologies in the workplace. This paper examines various factors that are considered crucial for effective AI integration, including technology acceptance, access to IT infrastructure, workforce structure, organizational culture and participatory practices. Using a mixed-methods approach, WIRKsam relates the initial organizational conditions to the researchers’ assessments and experiences of the first 24 months of the study. The analysis uses both qualitative and quantitative data and provides a robust framework for identifying the respective organizational prerequisites.It aims to map these factors and provide insights. Our results show the application partners involved in WIRKsam as companies with individual characteristics of technology and AI affinity as well as different organizational cultures. The workforce is predominantly male. Slightly more than half of the employees are 45 years and older. Overall, the research activities in WIRKsam are met with openness to electronic devices and AI. However, the fears of the employees are somewhat underestimated by the researchers. Employees rate their knowledge and experience with regard to AI as low and need support here in order to be able to participate in the participatory design of work systems in a more informed way. Management support is a key aspect of technology adoption that employees find important. Their absence is accompanied by worries about the job and lower expectations of positive changes in work, among other things. The knowledge gained will be incorporated into the development of tailor-made action plans to optimize conditions in similar environments.Practical relevance: Using the example of the application companies in WIRKsam Competence Center, the results show that there are very different combinations of framework conditions for the successful introduction of AI into operational practice in companies. Action plans can be derived to individually adapt the integrated approach according to the WIRKsam procedure model. The applied mix of methods allows a very comprehensive analysis and contributes to the validity of the results. In particular, the survey of researchers contributes to new findings, the importance of which lies on the one hand in complementing the perspective of employees and the company as a whole, and on the other hand in providing the researchers themselves with a basis for reflecting on their basic assumptions as an entire research team.

Developmental approach of safety in ergonomics/human factors: insights of constructed safety in six work environments

This article brings together works on the concept of constructed safety in ergonomics, carried out over the last twenty-five years. Firstly, we situate this approach to safety in relation to previously developed existing models (e.g. regulated and managed safety) with regard to the development of activity-centred ergonomics. We then present six research actions in activity-centred ergonomics from a selection of different fields, from small companies to the industry of the future in an international group: public works, hospitals, aeronautical industry, railway transport, agriculture, and chemical industry, in order to describe constructed safety applications. The results highlight that constructed safety is respectively raised by mutual knowledge between workers and management, collective decision making, collective reflexive work on safety rules, spatiotemporal articulation of the different safety sources, knowledge integration on pesticide exposure situations by designers and regulation, social regulation sustaining risk understanding and safety aspect involving a diversity of actors (workers, preventionists, managers, local residents and public authorities). By focusing on the analysis of actual safety practices in real work and real exposure situations, constructed safety aims to account for the way in which safety is deployed on a daily basis to meet production and health objectives. This understanding contributes to the design of safe work systems in a developmental way and to propose an operating model of constructed safety.

Using virtual reality to support the design of work systems in 3P workshops: a use case from the automotive industry

Using virtual reality to support the design of work systems in 3P workshops: a use case from the automotive industry

Design and simulation of solar pumping system using PVsyst, case study: TSABIT - ADRAR in Algeria

In isolated sites, the extension of the electricity network requires a very high capital cost. For agriculture work, irrigation is a necessity. A possible solution is using renewable energy sources like solar power, which is environmentally friendly and available for free. This paper presents the design and simulation of a photovoltaic water pumping system for irrigation of a farm located at a place named Tsabit in Adrar southwest Algeria. A detailed approach for the design of an optimized PV water pumping system based on real water usage data is proposed. Besides, system design work and performance assessment were carried out based on hourly climatic conditions. PV SYST software is used to carry out this work. A comparison was also made between two water pumping systems with and without use of a sun tracker. From the obtained results, the use of this kind of system could have an important contribution in the social and economic development of a country, especially in the presence of a sun tracker device, where we recorded more efficiency.

Design of Work Facility Improvements with a Macroergonomic Analysis and Design (MEAD) Approach in SMEs Andri Tofu

Small and Medium Enterprises Andri tofu is an industry engaged in food production which is located in Ngrampal District, Sragen. In the production process there is a non-optimal working system, where the process of setting up the mold tool takes more than 1 minute and the pressing process uses a load of more than 17 kg in the form of using a 20 liter bucket full of water. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that influence the work system, measure complaints and posture, and design work facility improvement designs. The method used is in the form of Macroergonomic Analysis and Design to design work systems and facilities based on the location of the highest deviation. The results of the study found that there were dominant body complaints on the right hand by 5.18% and mild complaints on the thighs by 1.41%. Improvements to the design of the tool have an adjustable height of 140-170 cm, a width of 72 cm, a height of 57 cm for the feet of the tool, and the pressing uses a gear system with a rack gear of 70 cm and diameter a spin gear of 6 cm which is driven using a rotary press stirrer.

The Effect of the New Working Days System on Employees Productivity in Sharjah

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Lastly, future research might consider longer-term data collection methods and more intricate ways to gauge how employees react to work-life balance based on four working days in a week. The HRM needs to reconsider the current economic climate because the employees have access to a variety of offers in the market. Therefore, it is beneficial for the organization to start providing perks to their potential employees. There is a high risk of employee turnover if they are not satisfied with the job, in this case, the implication of the four working days policy can benefit the workplace. By using relevant keywords like Work system design, job satisfaction, employee performance, productivity, and JEL codes (J24, J28, and M54) the study becomes more noticeable and accessible. Our study implications emphasized the importance of performance metrics, including productivity and job satisfaction.

Vom Teufelsquadrat zum nachhaltigen Engelsdiamanten und holistischen Bow-Tie-Modell: Methodenentwicklung für die ganzheitliche Analyse, Gestaltung und Entwicklung von nachhaltigen Arbeitssystemen

ZusammenfassungUm globalen Krisen wie dem Klimawandel oder Covid-19 entgegenzuwirken, wird es immer wichtiger, Arbeitssysteme nachhaltiger und resilienter zu gestalten. Dies betrifft nicht nur die ökologische, sondern auch die ökonomische, soziale und sicherheitspolitische Nachhaltigkeit. Vor diesem Hintergrund stellt sich die Aufgabe, etablierte Forschungsmethoden kritisch zu reflektieren, anzupassen und weiterzuentwickeln. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden Ansätze zur wertebasierten Systemgestaltung und -entwicklung untersucht, insbesondere mit dem Fokus, Nachhaltigkeit als grundlegenden Wert in der Systemgestaltung zu verankern. Es wurden zwei Modelle entwickelt, die einen ersten qualitativen Ansatz hierzu liefern können: Das „Engelsdiamant“-Diagramm zeigt Nachhaltigkeit auf der gleichen Ebene wie Zeit, Kosten, Funktionen und Qualität, die im klassischen Teufelsquadrat-Diagramm beschrieben werden. Das „holistische Bow-Tie-Modell“ zeigt die Verbindungen und Interaktionen zwischen einem lokalen soziotechnischen System und seinen globalen Metasystemen wie Organisationen, Gesellschaften und Umwelt. Die praktische Anwendung der Modelle im Rahmen eines NATO-Workshops im Kontext der Gestaltung eines KI-basierten Sicherheitssystems zeigt die Relevanz und erste Wirksamkeit beider Modelle.Praktische Relevanz: Die praktische Relevanz des Beitrags liegt in der Entwicklung und Anwendung von Modellen, die zur systematischen Integration von Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten in die Gestaltung von Arbeitssystemen beitragen. Sie ermöglichen es, die Auswirkungen auf ökologische, ökonomische, soziale und sicherheitspolitische Nachhaltigkeit bei Entscheidungen in der Systementwicklung zu berücksichtigen und fördern ein umfassenderes Verständnis der Wechselwirkungen zwischen lokalen und globalen Systemen. Die Anwendung der Modelle unterstützt dabei, komplexe Wechselwirkungen zu analysieren und Entscheidungen über ökologische, ökonomische und soziale Auswirkungen von Produkten oder Systemen zu treffen.

What does it mean to be good at peer reviewing? A multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis study of behavioral indicators of peer feedback literacy

Peer feedback literacy is becoming increasingly important in higher education as peer feedback has substantially grown as a pedagogical approach. However, quality of produced feedback, a key behavioral aspect of peer feedback literacy, lacks a systematic and evidence-based conceptualization to guide research, instruction, and system design. We introduce a novel framework involving six conceptual dimensions of peer feedback quality that can be measured and supported in online peer feedback contexts: reviewing process, rating accuracy, feedback amount, perceived comment quality, actual comment quality, and feedback content. We then test the underlying dimensionality of student competencies through correlational analysis, Multidimensional Scaling, and cluster analysis, using data from 844 students engaged in online peer feedback in a university-level course. The separability of the conceptual dimensions is largely supported in the cluster analysis. However, the cluster analysis also suggests restructuring perceived and actual comment quality in terms of initial impact and ultimate impact. The Multi-Dimensional Scaling suggests the dimensions of peer feedback can be conceptualized in terms of relative emphasis on expertise vs. effort and on overall review quality vs. individual comment quality. The findings provide a new road map for meta-analyses, empirical studies, and system design work focused on peer feedback literacy.

Human Factors Contributing to Infection Prevention in Outpatient Hemodialysis Centers: A Mixed Methods Study

Infection prevention efforts in dialysis centers can avert patient morbidity and mortality but are challenging to implement. The objective of this study was to better understand how the design of the work system might contribute to infection prevention in outpatient dialysis centers. Mixed methods, observational study. Six dialysis facilities across the United States visited by a multidisciplinary team over 8 months. At each facility, structured macroergonomic observations were undertaken by a multidisciplinary team using the SEIPS 1.0 model. Ethnographic observations were collected about staff encounters with dialysis patients including the content of staff conversations. Selective and axial coding were used for qualitative analysis and quantitative data were reported using descriptive statistics. Organizational and sociotechnical barriers and facilitators to infection prevention in the outpatient dialysis setting were identified. Features related to human performance, (eg, alarms, interruptions, and task stacking), work system design (eg, physical space, scheduling, leadership, and culture), and extrinsic factors (eg, patient-related characteristics) were identified. This was an exploratory evaluation with a small sample size. This study used a systematic macroergonomic approach in multiple outpatient dialysis facilities to identify infection prevention barriers and facilitators related to human performance. Several features common across facilities were identified that may influence infection prevention in outpatient care and warrant further exploration.

4-K-resolution minimalist optical system design based on deep learning.

In order to simplify optical systems, we propose a high-resolution minimalist optical design method based on deep learning. Unlike most imaging system design work, we combine optical design more closely with image processing algorithms. For optical design, we separately study the impact of different aberrations on computational imaging and then innovatively propose an aberration metric and a spatially micro-variant design method that better meet the needs of image recognition. For image processing, we construct a dataset based on the point spread function (PSF) imaging simulation method. In addition, we use a non-blind deblurring computational imaging method to repair spatially variant aberrations. Finally, we achieve clear imaging at 4K (5184×3888) using only two spherical lenses and achieve image quality similar to that of complex lenses on the market.

Analyzing the territorial dimensions of work through a comparative study of waste recovery facilities in France and Brazil.

Waste production and management from residents and collection for sorting are systems heavily dependent on territorial dimensions. Ergonomic research needs to better integrate such territorial determinants to improve work conditions and design sustainable work systems. Through studies in France and Brazil, this paper analyzes the territorial relations that raise work systems' sustainability challenges for materials recovery facilities (MRFs) and waste management in both countries and examines the links between work activity and territory in MRFs. Both studies were based on the principles of activity-oriented ergonomics and used analyses of work activity and sociotechnical systems. The French study focused on interventions conducted over a 42-month period in five MRFs. The Brazilian study was based on a 20-month longitudinal qualitative and quantitative study. In this paper, we argue that territory is a key determining factor in waste production and work. Notably, the consumption patterns of residents and the economic flows within a geographic space determine the waste composition; and the territorially specified public policies, which define technical and social dimensions of waste collection and sorting. However, the territorial dimensions of waste are poorly considered in facility design. Workers' health and sorting system performance are thus affected and negatively compromising plant performance. The territory appears as a blind spot in the design of work systems. One of the challenges is to create interfaces and devices that could help to integrate better human activity and waste territorialized anchorage, in a multilevel organization, from local communities to the global recycling chains.

Lean Ergonomics—an empirical combination of Management Science and Ergonomics

This paper presents Lean Ergonomics (LE) as an employee- and process-related method in a practice-oriented way. Stagnations in economic improvements of the processes, combined with known, high stresses of the basic workers on the shopfloor with ambiguous starting points of ergonomic measures hold broad analysis and optimization potential. This can be shown exploratively based on LE. 12 representative work processes at large reactors in the chemical industry form the study area. Each individual work process receives a Lean Ergonomics data set consisting of time data [standard deviation in min & %], objective ergonomics [EAWS] and subjective ergonomics [Borg, NASA-TLX; both pseudonymized]. Two process-identical production halls are provided, which is why KFzA (short questionnaire for work analysis) is also collected anonymously for additional general analysis of work system design. Consequently resulting in a diverse data structure of quantifiable person-related methods, objective, process-related loads and economically relevant, likewise process-related KPIs.

Protocol for a scoping review of work system design in health care.

Delivery of safe and reliable healthcare to patients and the healthcare workforce shortage amidst growing demand has been major challenge to the healthcare system. Addressing this challenge calls for designing or redesigning of healthcare work system. Work system design which is usually associated with productivity in manufacturing offers a wide spectrum of applicability in addressing this challenge of healthcare system. Despite the availability of primary studies on work system design in healthcare, there are sparse published reviews in specific contexts. This scoping review explores the existing evidence to understand the state of the art of work system design in healthcare. The scoping review adopts the methodology of Joanna Briggs Institute for scoping review which is based on the methodological framework of Arksey and O'Malley. The search will be done on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for the identification of eligible studies. A grey literature search will also be performed. A two-phase screening and extraction of data will be done by two independent reviewers. Data extraction will be done on a pre-piloted data extraction form. The findings will be presented in tables, figures, and a narrative summary. The scoping review will highlight the state of the art, gaps in knowledge and provide directions for future research. This is a scoping review of primary studies and therefore ethical approval is not required. The report of the findings will be presented in line with the PRISMA reporting guidelines for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The results will be submitted to a peer-reviewed scientific journal for publication and presented at relevant conferences.

Production Control Using the Kanban System in the Manufacturing Industry in Indonesia: Systematic Literature Review

The existence of the manufacturing industry in Indonesia is heavily influenced by productivity so that it can compete with other countries. Productivity will not be achieved if the production process workflow does not have a manufacturing system. This is what causes requests from customers not to be fulfilled becausethere is a production process flow that still has problems with a shortage of raw materials or the quality is still below standard. This study aims to identify and analyze related to the design of work systems in the manufacturing industry in Indonesia so that customer needs can be met according to their requests. This study uses the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method starting with journal collection, sorting journals according to topic, processing journals, and analyzing articles according to research topics. This study found several journals related to research topics based on a focus on 2016-2023. This research resulted in the year 2022 being the most published research with 5 articles, while based on the type of industry the most frequently found was the type of automotive industry with 6 articles or 30%. The theoretical implications of this research hope to add references for other researchers in their observations on the Kanban system. While realized in practice, this research serves as a guide in improving the production process flow using the Kanban system, to increase productivity in the manufacturing industry.

An Android-based Augmented Reality Application Design for the Physics Book of Grade XII ; Chapter 7 Theory of Relatively

Generally speaking, there are still numerous institutions that employ learning methods that are relatively inefficient. For instance, they still rely on traditional book media. where, the use of book media is still relatively inefficient, especially in material that requires a high level of understanding. The Work System Design Method for this augmented reality application uses several software, namely Blender3D, Unity, and Vuforia. This system's design includes interfaces or display interfaces that depict application workflows described through Flowcharts. Through this final project, we have developed a mobile-based augmented reality application that boasts several key features. The Main Menu includes pointer buttons to other menus, while the AR Menu displays the 3D object. The Help and About menus are also available. Our conclusion is that this augmented reality application can assist students who are keen on learning, and it can alleviate difficulties in understanding complex subjects.

Analysis and Design of Work Systems using Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Standards at Mr. Sarbani’s Tempe Jombor Sukoharjo

<p><strong>MSMEs </strong><strong>have very </strong><strong>large</strong><strong> number of actors so </strong><strong>they </strong><strong>play </strong><strong>an important role in </strong><strong>community</strong><strong> welfare</strong><strong>.</strong><strong> </strong><strong>One popular type of MSMEs is the food producer. This study focuses on UKM </strong><strong>Tempe Pak Sarbani </strong><strong> (UKMTS), who produces tempe, the traditional Indonesian food and is located in </strong><strong>Jombor Sukoharjo</strong><strong>.</strong><strong> </strong><strong>UKMTS </strong><strong>production process is directly related to the production environment because it affects the level of productivity, smoothness, and timeliness of production. The </strong><strong>tempe </strong><strong>production process</strong><strong>es</strong><strong> at </strong><strong>UKMTS are</strong><strong> still </strong><strong>manual</strong><strong>, and ha</strong><strong>ve</strong><strong> not met the </strong><strong>conditions </strong><strong>for the application of Good Processed Food Production Methods (CPP). </strong><strong>At UKMTS p</strong><strong>roduction </strong><strong>processes </strong><strong>do not </strong><strong>yet </strong><strong>meet standards and </strong><strong>have </strong><strong>irregular facility arrangements </strong><strong>which </strong><strong>greatly hinder operators in carrying out the production process. </strong><strong>Therefore i</strong><strong>t is necessary to improve the work system and design a repair work system based on HACCP principles </strong><strong>t</strong><strong>o meet HACCP standards for the </strong><strong>M</strong><strong>SME scale. </strong><strong>B</strong><strong>ased on all the discrepancies ob</strong><strong>served, currently t</strong><strong>he application of CPPB for </strong><strong>UKMTS </strong><strong>is at level 4. </strong><strong>At</strong><strong> this </strong><strong>level</strong><strong>, 9 critical control points are </strong><strong>indicat</strong><strong>ed which must be made critical,</strong><strong> </strong><strong>monitor</strong><strong>ed </strong><strong>and improve</strong><strong>d </strong><strong>to </strong><strong>avoid </strong><strong>dangers that </strong><strong>may </strong><strong>occur. In the last stage of implementing HACCP in UKM</strong><strong>TS</strong><strong>, a documentation system was created for the monitoring process.</strong></p><p><strong><em>Keywords</em></strong> – <em>HACCP, </em><em>P</em><em>roduction, </em><em>W</em><em>ork </em><em>S</em><em>ystem, MSME</em><em> (UKM).</em></p>

Co-Design with Patients for Improving Patient Safety: Strategies, Barriers and pitfalls.

What happens when "frontline" workers are patients and family members performing health-related tasks? As more and more complex healthcare tasks are performed by patients and family members, and more emphasis is placed on patient- and family-centered care, strategies are needed to engage patients and family members in co-design "work systems" and patient-professional collaborative work. Human factors professionals are well-equipped to apply participatory ergonomics to patient and collaborative tasks. However, there are a number of barriers and pitfalls in engaging patients in design. Moving from tokenism to meaningful engagement in research requires patience, constant reflection, and a commitment to codesign. Our panel will explore the continuum of engagement and strategies to move from tokenism to partnership to cocreation in patient safety research, ranging from ambulatory medication safety to diagnosis in the emergency department. Strategies and barriers are presented as a starting point to discuss how to achieve effective work system designs.