THE PERFORMANCE OF OPERATORS IN CONVEYOR-PACED WORK

Abstract

This paper describes a pilot study conducted to investigate the performance of operators under paced conditions in a particular form of conveyor-paced working. The response shown by the operator is reflected grossly by a speeding-up in work rate The study aims particularly at investigating whether the service time for a part, delivered on the conveyor, will depend upon the time available before the next part would be missed and pass unprocessed. The feed rate and the position in the pick-up area in which a part is picked up arc shown to affect the service time with different degrees of magnitude.