Computer-aided design, work organization, and the integratedfactory

A common job design model of the integrated factory is outlined, and the extent to which international experiences in computer-aided design (CAD) use conform to the model is assessed. With particular focus on experiences in Australia, it is argued that the variety of types and uses of CAD undermine any simple unlinear theory of necessary or appropriate work organization for CAD. It is concluded, however, that work on the design of so-called human-centered manufacturing systems provides an important opportunity for reassessing the most desirable direction for the future of CAD development and use     

Tinkering with technology: Human factors,work redesign,and professionals in workplace innovation

Professionals in workplace innovation operate in practice as collective designers and political entrepreneurs as well as applied scientists. They apply and adapt human factors and organizational knowledge and techniques to enable projects to succeed in complex, culturally diverse, and politically charged change processes. This creates a major challenge for their professional training. They require a self‐understanding, ability, and will that enables them to act as reflective practitioners continuously improving the practical skills of their “craft.” This article draws on the reflections of professionals in workplace innovation to argue this case, and seeks to inform further reflection by presenting a view of their role as professional bricoleurs. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Trajectories,social worlds,and boundary objects: A framework for analyzing the politics of technology

Many people recognize that politics plays a central role in sociotechnical change. Despite this recognition, however, there is little discussion in the human factors literature about what the term “politics” actually means, and how it can be studied. In this article, we propose a definition of politics, based on symbolic interactionism, a sociological tradition that emphasizes the close relationship between human agency and social structures. We illustrate the use of the approach, and some of its key concepts, through a case study of a human factors intervention in the trial of an intelligent manufacturing system in Australia. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

An international survey of the use and effectiveness of modern manufacturing practices

We describe a survey of the use and effectiveness of 12 manufacturing practices. The survey was administered to a random, stratified sample of companies with 150 or more employees in the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and Switzerland, yielding a total sample of 898 companies. We report findings on the extent of use of the practices, when they were introduced, their predicted future use, their effectiveness, and the correlates of their use and effectiveness. The data are examined for differences by country of location and country of ownership, as well as by industrial sector. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Mudanças not removalists: Rethinking the management of organizational change

All successful innovation, including effective human factors interventions, needs to address the problems of organizational inertia as well as active opposition and resistance. Yet our common understanding of how to “manage” such problems—described in this article as the management of organizational change—embodies a restricted and ineffective view of change management. The author proposes an alternative approach, viewing change management as an activity of leading changing institutions. This approach captures the fluid character of change(ing) as an emergent process, the complex social character of human institutions, and the crucial role of leadership in constructing collective goals and purposes in situations of conflict and uncertainty. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 16: 229–245, 2006.     

Technology,work and culture

Conclusion There has been no attempt in this introduction to put forward a particular method for dealing with these challenges nor to assess the full contribution of the articles in this issue. This outline and discussion has been intended merely to stimulate interdisciplinary debate and provide some of the background to assist in making this possible. A full account would at least have involved a broader review of the background of McLoughlin and Aicholzer and Schienstock in developments within the industrial sociology or industrial relations discipline. Their contributions do, however, provide a good introduction to the traditions within which they are working and so it is not necessary to provide more information here. It is nevertheless important to note in McLoughlin's case that his analysis of technological systems and system architectures is based on earlier work by McLoughlin and his colleagues, cited in the article, on the complex nature of engineering systems and the importance of taking this complexity into account in any discussion of the impact of technology on organisation. If the result of this issue is the stimulation of system designers to read further in such areas or the encouragement of industrial sociologists to become more involved in research directed towards human-oriented system design then it will have served its purpose.     

On the safety of conceptual fusion-fission hybrid reactors

A preliminary examination of some potential safety questions for conceptual fusion-fission hybrid reactors is presented in this paper. The study and subsequent analysis was largely based upon one design, a conceptual mirror fusion-fission reactor, operating on the deuterium-tritium plasma fusion fuel cycle and the uranium-plutonium fission fuel cycle. The major potential hazards were found to be: (a) fission products, (b) actinide elements, (c) induced radioactivity, and (d) tritium.As a result of these studies, it appears that highly reliable and even redundant decay heat removal must be provided. Loss of the ability to remove decay heat results in melting of fuel, with ultimate release of fission products and actinides to the containment. In addition, the studies indicate that blankets can be designed which will remain subcritical under extensive changes in both composition and geometry. Magnet safety and the effects of magnetic fields on thermal parameters were also considered.