Publisher's Synopsis
There is a great worldwide social experiment where different models of manufacturing are competing with each other. A growing gap of performance is emerging between a small number of pioneer manufacturers substantially renewing their industries and mainstream businesses still following rather traditional perspectives of rationalization. The successful innovators, having implemented new models of production, are able to achieve quantum leaps in economic performance and competitiveness with respect to productivity, lead time or innovation capability. This indicates that the development and comprehensive use of human abilities, skills and expertise are crucial. The role of humans and the functions of technology in manufacture are shifting weights and it is obvious that a holistic approach to work design is required, which considers the mutual dependencies of people's needs, organisation and technology.;The 73 papers organized in six sections in this volume reflect the variety and complexity of the problems inherent in the design, implementation and management of advanced manufacturing systems. The first part, entitled Design of Advanced Manufacturing Systems (20 papers), addresses issues of design of advanced manufacturing systems as a unity of people, organization and technology. The second part (20 papers) deals with more details questions of Shaping Computer Technology and Work Design in important sub-systems of manufacturing. The third part (12 papers) is devoted to Human Computer Interaction issues from different angles and for various domains of work in the factory environment. Part IV (9 papers) presents papers devoted to various aspects of Human Resources Management . Papers allocated to part V (6 papers) discuss the important issues of Skill Formation and Training associated with the renewal of the factory. Finally, part VI (5 papers) deals with the improvement of Safety issues in computerized manufacturing systems.
