Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
work environment
work piece
acting on
input
output
feedback
working equipment /
operating resources
task
acting on
work
result
material
information
energy
feedback
working person
material
information
energy
(changed)
job order
FIGURE 5.5 Overview of work system approach.
The differentiation between job order and work task provides a first reference point for the fact that the
system purpose is dependent on the point of view on the work system. From the systems environment
point of view, the main purpose of a work system consists of purposeful handling of job orders. Work
systems are regarded by their environment under purpose-rational and economic criteria. From the
point of view of a human who is working in the system, the purpose of the work system is the realization
of personal motives. On the one hand, his work accounts for the assurance of his subsistence via the
payment. On the other hand, the purpose of the system can be seen as an interesting and varied task.
5.3.1.2 Goals of Work System Design and the Idea of Man in Ergonomics
Basic goal of work system design is the optimization of the entire work system. In the sense of the main
objective of ergonomics work systems are to be suitably arranged for both human and economical pur-
poses. Thereby, economy is determined by the best possible proportion of inputs (e.g., raw materials,
energy) to outputs (e.g., finished products, service). Human abilities and technical conditions are to
be adjusted, in order to arrange work systems to be suitable for humans. Ergonomics is based on the
assumption that rationalization and humanization goals work complementary to each other. On the
one hand, humane conditions of work lead to effectiveness (in the sense of result reaching) and efficiency
(in the sense of small resources inputs). On the other hand, effectiveness and efficiency form an import-
ant basis, in order to be able to create humane conditions of work. The consideration of the “resources
coworker,” the “human factors,” has become more important. A one-sided pursuit of one or another goal
clearly leads to suboptimal results.
Ergonomics considers the technology, the organization, and the personnel in the context of human
work. In doing so, ergonomics distinguishes itself from predominantly human being-referred disciplines
by including technical aspects into the working process. On the other hand, a differentiation takes place
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