Humans in Work System Environment - Fundamentals and Assessment Tools for Occupational Ergonomics - page 79

primary function and their substantial output, but apart from their characteristic technique most of the
other techniques are also used in subordinated functions. A manufacturing system, for example, apart
from its main technical function covers handling- and storage-technical subfunctions, as well as
energy- and information-technical subfunctions (Section 5.2.4).
Systematics of technical systems — like Ropohl's scheme — can serve as a framework for the design of
the technical subsystem of a work system. Further technical systematics can be allocated to the individual
fields, referring to Ropohl's scheme. For example, in reference to the manufacturing technique (field
“material transformation” in the scheme) different manufacturing processes (referring to DIN 8580)

can be distinguished (Figure 5.8). These individual manufacturing processes can in turn be differentiated
further. Thus, cutting processes are divided into cutting with geometrically welldefined tool edges and
cutting with nondefined tool edges. The first-mentioned category consists, for example, of turning,
milling, roaching, drilling, and boring. These individual processes can in turn be classified according
to different criteria.

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5.3.2.5 Work Environment Environmental Influences

On the one hand, social and cultural factors, which affect the work system are assigned to the work
environment. On the other hand, the term “environment” means the spatially surrounding fields,
from which physical and chemical, and in addition, biological (e.g., bacteriological) influences affect
humans and their physical ability. The physical -chemical work environment can be differentiated
according to the kind of influences it has on the working person:

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. Working materials
. Radiation
. Climate
. Noise and sound
. Mechanical vibrations
. Lighting

On the basis of the fact that individual work environment factors rarely appear isolated, but in com-
bination with each other a consideration of effects is only permissible for the entirety of all environment
factors in combination with the work-specific types of stress. So far, these inter-relationships have
remained widely unexplored so that in practice the consideration of effects for each individual variable
of stress seems appropriate.
The following proceeding has proven useful for the analysis, evaluation, and design of single work
environment factors (Luczak, 1998):

1. Knowledge of the scientific bases
2. Measurement of the work environment variable

forming
cohesion

retaining
cohesion

reducing
cohesion

increasing cohesion

2. metal
forming

3. cutting 4. joining

1. primary
shaping

5. coating

6. changing material property

FIGURE 5.8 Systematics of manufacturing processes referring to DIN 8580.