ABSTRACT

Activities of operating on a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) were analysed during the testing period in the manufacturer's plant. The FMS that has been analysed consists of two CNC machining centres, a handling system for system loading with tools and work pieces and an instrument for tool presetting. An intergrated centralized tool magazine and pallet-buffers minimize non-cutting times. Control of the system is aided by an "organization computer" which is superior to both machine computers. With Verfahren zur Ermittlung von Regulations-erfordernissen in der Arbeitstatigkeit (VERA) the extent of a worker's planning-, thought- and decision-processes required by the industrial work task can be assessed. By VERA microanalysis a whole work task is subdivided into a sequence of sub-tasks of which each is analysed separately. At present VERA microanalysis is applied within a research project that compares CNC work structures. At present VERA microanalysis is applied within an industrial psychological research project which aims to investigate CNC technology in different firms.