Framework for incorporating human factors into production and logistics systems. Issue 2 (17th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vijayakumar, Vivek; Sgarbossa, Fabio; Neumann, W. Patrick; Sobhani, Ahmad
• Is Part Of: International journal of production research. Volume 60:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 402
• Page End: 419
• Publication Date: 2022-01-17
• Subjects: Human factors -- logistics -- production modelling -- assembly systems -- order picking methods; Factory management -- Periodicals; 658.57
• DOI: 10.1080/00207543.2021.1983225
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7543

Abstract

Abstract : Many companies, despite there being opportunities for automation in production and logistics (P&L) systems, still rely on human workers due to their cognitive and motor skills. Taking Human Factor (HF) aspects into consideration when making P&L system design and management decisions is therefore important, an ignorance of HF potentially resulting in operator fatigue, discomfort, subsequent injuries and negative consequences for operator performance and the P&L system. A review of the literature shows that the majority of studies that take HF into consideration focus either on designing the workplace or on operation planning activities. There is also still a gap in the literature. Little has been published on P&L systems that incorporate HF and that combine different levels of short-term operational policy decisions (e.g. job allocation) and long-term system characteristic decisions (e.g. layout design). Current state-of-the-art frameworks that support the design and management of P&L systems and that take HF into consideration rarely consider different decision levels. This study proposes a new framework that incorporates HF into P&L systems by combining different levels of decisions to improve performance, quality, and well-being.