Chapter 8 Process Technology

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Chapter 8 Process Technology

• process technologies are the machines, equipment
  and devices which help the operation transform
  materials, information and customers in order to
  add value and fulfill the operations strategic
  objectives
• the 5 performance objectives must be considered
  when choosing technologies for the operation
• there are 3 main types of process technology
• materials processing technology
• CNC (computer numerically controlled) machine
  tools
• robotics
• handling robots
• process robots
• assembly robots

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8 Process Technology

• AGV (automated guided vehicles)
• moves material to and from value-adding
  operations
• FMS (flexible manufacturing systems)
• computer controlled workstations, connected by
  automated material handling and machine loading
  systems
• advantages include
• lead-time and throughput
• inventory saving
• increased utilisation
• reduced set-up times
• reduced number of machines/operations
• increased quality
• CIM (computer integrated manufacturing)

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8 Process Technology

• information processing technology
• device which collects, manipulates, stores or
  distributes information (eg. ERP)
• hardware
• software
• database
• LAN
• internet/intranet
• world wide web
• extranets
• E-business
• MIS (management information systems)

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8 Process Technology

• customer processing technology
• involving customer interaction
• passive (ie. passenger on aircraft)
• active (ie. car)
• through an intermediary
• eg. travel agent

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Chapter 9 Job Design and Work
Organisation

• elements of job design include
• tasks to be allocated to each person
• sequence of tasks to be established
• the job to be located
• assigning jobs to a group of people
• facilities and equipment to be determined
• environmental conditions established (ie.
  comfort)
• autonomy to be included
• skills are to be developed

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9 Job Design and Work Organisations

• the chronology of different approaches to job
  design

Division of Labour
Flexible Working
Team Working
Behavioural Approach
Scientific Management
Empowerment
Ergonomics
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9 Job Design and Work Organisations

• division of labour
• dividing the total task into smaller parts, each
  accomplished by a single person
• advantages
• promotes faster learning
• automation becomes easier
• reduced non-productive work
• disadvantages
• monotony
• physical injury
• low flexibility
• poor robustness (whole operation fails if one
  stage is not working properly)

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9 Job Design and Work Organisations

• scientific management
• Taylorism
• 2 fields of work study emerged, which
  investigates factors affecting efficiency and
  economy
• method study
• determining the methods and activities which
  should be included in jobs
• done by recording present methods, asking
  critical questions about them, then developing,
  installing and maintaining new methods
• work measurement
• measuring the time that should be taken for
  performing jobs
• for a qualified worker, in a specified job, with
  clarified levels of performance

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9 Job Design and Work Organisation

• ergonomics
• how a person interacts with physical aspects of
  his/her workplace (table, chair)
• how a person interfaces with environmental
  conditions (temperature, lighting)
• considers anthropometric aspects (peoples
  size, shape)
• considers neurological aspects (sight, feel)
• OHS (occupational health and safety)

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9 Job Design and Work Organisation

• behavioural approaches to job design
• considers the desire of individuals to fulfill
  their needs for self-esteem and personal
  development
• job rotation
• reduces monotony
• increases skills
• job enlargement
• larger number of tasks
• less repetition of jobs
• widens job scope
• job enrichment
• greater decision making
• autonomy
• greater control over jobs
• increases job depth

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9 Job Design and Work Organisation

• empowerment
• giving staff the authority to make changes to
  the job and how it is performed
• team-working
• also called self-managed work teams

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9 Job Design and Work Organisation

• flexible working
• 3 aspects
• skill flexibility
• multi-skilling
• emphasis on training, learning
• time flexibility
• working part of their time
• location flexibility - teleworking
• occasional telecommuting
• hotelling
• home working
• fully mobile

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Design Overview
1 products and services
3 layout and flow
5 job
2 operations network
4 process technology