Simulation, human factors, and innovation in work system design

新制造方法的生产率提高是否因缺乏对人为因素的关注而受到损害？创新的生产方式对员工是否安全？虽然计算机模拟技术正在帮助今天的工程师开发明天的工作场所，但该技术很少考虑到人们的能力和局限性。 这个NSERC“发现”研究计划将开发新的方法，将关键的“人为因素”融入工厂设计-使用最新的计算机模拟技术。 “人因工程”旨在利用对人的了解来改善我们的工作方式，以提高生产力，并提高员工的安全和福祉-这是一个双赢的主张。 世界卫生组织报告说，与工作有关的健康状况不佳的成本高达世界国内生产总值的4%。 通过将人类特征，例如我们在工作时间上的自然变化或我们一天中的疲劳程度，纳入计算机模型，可以检查拟议的工厂设计与人类操作员之间的“匹配”。 该研发计划将开发和验证新的模拟方法，以帮助设计团队在设计工作中考虑人类。 考虑创新概念的公司，例如精益并行流程而不是串行生产，可以使用模拟来确保他们在不牺牲劳动力的情况下达到预期目标。 但是，当公司一个部门的收益导致另一个部门的亏损时，会发生什么呢？ 在这里，整个公司的模拟，有时被称为“微观世界”，可以帮助管理者检查他们的选择的长期影响-在几秒钟内。 这对于管理“人为因素”特别有帮助，因为在管理人员选择特定设计后的几个月或几年内，可能会出现不良设计的成本。 该计划将适应当前的模拟技术，以帮助设计师评估其设计中的人力和生产力标准，而无需进行改造或最后一刻的更改。 发展高生产力和人类可持续发展的创新工作场所对加拿大未来的增长至关重要。 仿真技术可以帮助实现这一目标-如果我们现在开发它的人性化一面。

Are productivity gains from new manufacturing approaches compromised by lack of attention to human factors? Are innovative production approaches safe for employees? While computer simulation technology is helping today's engineers develop tomorrow's workplaces, the technology rarely accounts for people's capabilities and limitations.   This NSERC 'discovery' research program will develop new approaches for integrating the critical 'Human Factor' into factory design- using the latest in computer simulation technology.  'Human Factors Engineering' aims to use knowledge about people to improve the way we work for better productivity, and also for better employee safety and well being - a win-win proposition.  The World Health Organisation reports that work-related ill health costs up to 4% of the world's gross domestic product.  By including human traits, such our natural variations in performance time or how we fatigue over the day, into computer models it is possible to examine the 'match' between the proposed factory design and the human operators.  This R&D program will develop and validate new simulation approaches to help design teams consider humans in their design work.  Companies considering innovative concepts, such as lean parallel flow rather than serial line production, can use simulation to ensure they reach their intended goals without sacrificing their work-force.  But what happens when gains in one department of the company lead to losses in another department?  Here, simulations of the whole company, sometimes called 'Microworlds', can help managers examine the long term effects of their options - in just seconds.  This is particularly helpful for managing the 'Human Factor' where the costs of poor design might emerge months or years after a manager has chosen a particular design.  This program will adapt current simulation technology to help designers evaluate both human and productivity criteria in their designs, without the large costs of retrofitting or last-minute changes.  Developing innovative workplaces that are highly productive and humanly sustainable is critical for Canada's future growth.  Simulation technology can help reach this goal - if we develop its human side now.