Citation

Borjesson S. Int. J. Ind. Ergonomics 1991; 7(3): 241-274.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS) can be seen as the latest innovation in automation of batch production. When discussing FMSs it is sometimes asserted that such systems comprise a potential for work structures with operators who are remote in time and physically from the actual production process. This implies that there exists a potential for the alternative forms of working hours. In order to discuss the opportunities for applying alternaive forms of work scheduling in an FMS, the system must be analyzed with respect to autonomy. In this paper, a framework for analysis of operator autonomy in an FMS is presented. The framework focuses on factors in the technical design and the work design that are essential for autonomy. The main objective of the framework is to offer contextual understanding of the aspects in an FMS that constrain the autonomy, thereby clarifying the prerequisites for alternative working hours.