Application of a HCS model 3E in the virtual control of a robotic workplace.

Hatiar, Karol ; Cook, Thomas Michael ; Sakal, Peter 等

1. INTRODUCTION

Based on four year work within our "Participatory Ergonomics" project, the HCS 3E model recognizes humans as the object and subject of all our efforts. We focus on the concept that the work environment should maintain each person's quality of life while at the same time sustaining both environmental and economical conditions (Cook et al., 2000). This model is based on the following assumptions and consists, in general, of the following steps:

1. Information and public relation within the target population

2. Contacts with potential partners

3. Obtaining commitment of top management

4. Initiating the participatory ergonomics process by stages:

a. Ergonomic analysis of working conditions and risk assessment

b. Initiation of a participatory ergonomics process by conducting workshops for top management and workers (risk announcement)

c. Development of personal and material preconditions for proceeding the participatory ergonomics process (risk management)

d. Development of a process for monitoring progress

e. Implementation of proposed control measures.

Ad 1) Information and public relation within the target population. In the past, ergonomic programs in socialist countries lacked market-based incentives to continue to develop and improve. Rather, more extensive ergonomic programs were seen as something requiring significant external financial support and as being too luxurious for the average enterprise. For decades, in the countries of "real" Socialism, ergonomics was never understood as an important condition for economic competitiveness and long-term economic stability. Unfortunately, this lack of understanding about the real economic value of ergonomics still persists among many representatives of top management of important enterprises in former socialist countries, including Slovakia. Between 1997 and 2004, we conducted a number of ergonomics workshops throughout Slovakia that focused on the importance of ergonomic programs aimed at prevention of work related diseases and on the importance of ergonomics in promoting the competitiveness and sustainability of Slovak enterprises (Kuznetsov, 2007).

Ad 2) Contacts with potential partners. We oriented our contacts for potential partners for our Participatory Ergonomic project to public health and health and safety professionals. (Unfortunately, Occupational Health and Work Safety institutions in the Slovak Republic are still separated, however, it is expected that Slovakia will officially accept the integrated model of Occupational Health and Safety typical in more developed EU countries.)

Ad 3) Obtaining commitment of top management. A basic requirement for successful application of the HCS 3E model is the involvement and commitment of an enterprise's top managers. We obtained this commitment by providing detailed information about the HCS 3E program purpose and its relation to fulfilling the requirements of the new Slovak Republic legislation (Horak et al., 2008). Once they clearly understand the purposes and scope of the program, top management usually appreciate the fact that we involve them in preparing the form and content of the workshops that are presented to workers within their enterprises. It is noteworthy, that during the last several years, we have experienced an increased interest in ergonomics programs from both health and safety professionals and managers of many enterprises.

Ad 4) Initiating the participatory ergonomics process. The process of starting an ergonomics program is gradual and has various stages depending on the specific conditions in each enterprise (Landryova, Zolotova & Bakos, 2006). The process usually consists of the following steps:

a) Ergonomic analysis of working conditions (risk assessment) is usually accomplished by using a modified Nordic Questionnaire, by interviewing workers, and by analyzing video records. Patterns of musculoskeletal system symptoms, including discomfort, numbness, and pains located to certain body areas, are often indications of work and workplace conditions that could benefit from ergonomic improvements. Further indicators of the severity of such problems are the number and causes of physician visits. Evaluation of these problems includes calculation of the prevalence of both symptoms and physician visits.

b) Workshops organized for top management (information) and workers (group problem solving participatory training) present information about the results of the ergonomic analyses and discussions about possible workplace improvements (risk announcement) are used to begin the participatory ergonomics process.

c) Development of personal and material preconditions for proceeding the participatory ergonomics process (risk management).

d) Development of annual reviews of the ergonomics process enabling model continuation and refinements (by health effect and cost benefit analysis).

e) Implementation of measures proposed on the basis of the results of the annual review.

2. HCS 3E MODEL AND ITS APPLICATIONS

The HCS 3E model applies the National strategy of sustainable development of the Slovak Republic" on the macro-level while simultaneously working on the enterprise micro-level (3E: Environmental Health, Ergonomics, Economy). This model is focusing on the effectiveness of human work and cost benefit. We suppose to use this model as a tool for revitalizing the enterprises while, at the same time, revitalizing financial resources for sustainable development (fig. 1).

[FIGURE 1 OMITTED]

We believe this model meets our requirements in both practical and scientific areas and brings new stimuli to economic development in Slovakia and other neighboring countries that are in the process of adapting to the conditions in the European Community.

3. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HCS MODEL 3E IN A VIRTUAL TECHNOLOGICAL WORKPLACE

The concept virtual HCS model 3E of a technological workplace is designed in the phase of the project. It allows to design the technology in real as well as it permits the definition of the basic principles of the technological process control system. There are 3 acceptable aspects (3E) of sustainable development:

1 Environmental aspects--each of the technologies carry an environmental burden which also reflects to the economic aspects because of the inevitable operational measures. The advantage of the proposed virtual technology application means that it is not necessary to produce the model of a technological device, nor it is necessary to create the real technological workplace. By the production of the aforementioned devices, the environmental impact is minimized.

2 Economic aspects--there are few of them. They can be divided into partial groups and subgroups. The most important aspects that have to be in the optimization of such a technology, that are taken into consideration, are the investment costs (the amount of finances related to the specific virtual equipment purchase) and operation costs (technological devices, electricity consumption and other related costs) which can influence also the decision making in a new technology purchase (Barborak et al., 2007).

3 Ergonomic aspects of virtual technologies--working conditions, lighting, noise, protective clothing necessary for the operation of such a technology, etc.

Work on spreading of ergonomics programs throughout Slovakia and neighboring countries by expanding personal and completing materials for the proposed ergonomics laboratory as a part of Center of Strategic Studies according to the proposal submitted to the scientific board of STU Bratislava, MtF.

4. CONCLUSION

By the project investigation and implementation, the following aspects from the view of basic principles of a new paradigm will be fulfilled:

1 Certain deviation from the principles of traditional rational paradigm followed by the majority of organizations and schools in the past and still followed by several traditional ones.

2 In contrast with the rational opinion, the supporters of the current paradigm of technological workplaces think, that the organization effectiveness is needed not only internally but externally as well.

3 All faculty structures (organizational structure, study programes, organizational control, university control, etc.) are the organization reflections to the external changes.

4 Current trend of teaching technical subjects has to be researched as a socioeconomic and environmental system represented also by our HCS model 3E, developed for transformation industry process based on University of Iowa, USA experience.

The contribution was elaborated within the research project KEGA project No. 3-7285-09 Contents Integration and Design of University Textbook "Specialised Robotic Systems" in Print and Interactive Modules for University of Technology in Zvolen, Trencin University and Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava.

5. REFERENCES

Barborak, O; Blagodarny, V. & Andrejcak I. (2007). Realibiality determination of mechanical systems in a design phase, TRANSFER 07, Trencianska univerzita A. Dubceka, Trencin, ISSN 1336-9695, pp. 56-61

Cook, T. M. ; Hatiar, K. & Rosecrance, J. C. (2000). A model for participatory ergonomics in the Slovak Republic. In : Ergonomics and Safety for Global Business Quality and Productivity. Proceedings of the second international conference ERGON-AXIA 2000, Warsaw, Poland, 19-21 May, Central Institute for Labour Protection, Warsaw, pp. 411-414

Horak, M. & Novotny, F. (2008). Robotic handling in flat glass production. In: Proceedings of 9 International Carpathian Control Conference 2008, May 25-28, Sinaia, Romania

Kuznetsov, A. P. (2007). Metodika ocenki efektivnosti strukturstrategij proizvodstvennych system masinostrojenija. Technogija masinostrojenija, No. 7

Landryova, L. ; Zolotova, I. & Bakos, M. (2006). Teaching Supervisory Control Based on a Web Portal and a System of Laboratory Task. Book Series: /IFIP International Federation for Information Processing/, Publisher Springer Boston, ISSN1571-5736 (Print) pp. 1861-2288 (Online), Subject Computer Science, Volume 210, Book: /Education for the 21st Century--Impact of ICT and Digital Resources/,DOI 10.1007/978-0-387-34731-8_43, Santiago, Chile, pp. 351-355