THE SIMULATION OF A PACED SINGLE STAGE WORK TASK

Abstract

A model of a particular type of conveyor-based single stage working has been developed and programmed for a digital computer. The model has been used to simulate “mechanical effect” (i.e. the effect of specific settings of feed rate and tolerance time) on an operator's natural unpaced performance. It is shown that operator response to pacing can be dimensioned more properly by reference to “mechanical effect” measures. Also, with assumptions of operator response to pacing the model can be used to predict output, misses and delay for selected conveyor settings. Response, shown as increased rates of working in a real study, has been incorporated in the simulation of paced from unpaced performance. This response has been represented grossly by a reduction in service time if the part, when picked up, has reached a particular proportion of the tolerance zone. Selected speed up effects have given reasonable agreement between simulated and actual successes and misses in a range of feed rates up to 13 per cent above unpaced performance.