Citation

Megaw T, Bellamy LJ, Powell J. Proc. Hum. Factors Ergon. Soc. Annu. Meet. 1981; 25(1): 622-626.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1981, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1071181381025001163

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Over the last two years, we have been involved in evaluating the current methods of final visual inspection in two large manufacturing companies and implementing changes in the methods where necessary. In both studies our approach has been structured by employing a simple general methodology and an error taxonomy specifically appropriate to visual inspection tasks. One of the purposes of this paper is to demonstrate that the initial evaluation of current inspection methods revealed similar problems in both companies despite very obvious differences in management organisation, in the nature of the inspection task and in the general conditions of the working environment. The techniques used in the original evaluation included, amongst others, the establishing of a variety of performance measures, the application of questionnaires and the use of video recordings of the inspection task and of the accompanying eye movements of the inspectors. The paper goes on to describe the progress that has currently been made in both companies to provide unequivocal quality standards, to introduce improved workplaces and to develop appropriate forms of training. At all stages during the projects it was clear that progress was severely restricted by numerous constraints outside the control of the authors. These are mentioned during the course of this paper.

Language: en