Industrial Engineering (Human Effort Engineering) - Second Term

In the second term curriculum, one applied science of human sciences group, ergonomics is included. Three subjects related to work and work systems are included. Two subjects are subjects in the decision analysis group of subjects, but they are titled to point out that they are to be taught with a focus on their application in industrial engineering practice.

Second Term

Principles of Motion Economy and Safety
Methods Improvement
Work Measurement
Ergonomics
Economic Analysis for Industrial Engineering-I
Quantitative Techniques for Industrial Engineering

Laboratory/Project Work

Rating workshop
Methods Improvement Project
Ergonomics

Principles of Motion Economy and Safety

This subject could be a new proposal. I mentioned in the preface, that industrial engineering curriculums lack the depth. The topic “Principles of Motion Economy” is generally discussed as a chapter in work study books. Probably, Barnes gives an extensive treatment of this topic. Here I propose that principles of safety are also discussed along with principles of motion economy. Also the pace at which operators are expected to work using their various body parts, has to be discussed in this subject. A number of case studies related to use various body parts fingers, hand motion (full), hand motion (half), use of feet, use of legs, use of eyes, twist of body, bending and lifting weights are to be discussed as a part of this subject. There may not be any readily available book at this moment for this subject. My quick search resulted in two hits.

1. PRINCIPLES OF MOTION ECONOMY APPLIED TO THE SETTING OUT OF TULIP BULBS IN BOXES ON THE WORK BENCH, http://www.actahort.org/books/3/3_5.htm
2. Analysis of principles of motion economy relating to bodily movements /--by Ram Vaswani. (1954) Thesis (M.S.)--Illinois Institute of Technology, 1954.

There can be number of articles on the topic of principles of motion economy and principles of safety are to be covered from safety books and articles and integration between these sets of principles is to be attempted by the faculty.



Methods Improvement

Methods improvement is specified as a full subject to provide depth in the topic. The material in old work study books is to be integrated with the material developed by Japanese practitioners. This subject best suited for case discussion method. Therefore explanation of established and case discussions sessions are to be used in this subject. The case discussion method will help in developing the creative efforts of aspiring industrial engineers and also help in developing their communication skills in selling their solutions to other executives and operators. There is a real need for a number of case books in this subject.

Work Measurement

This subject provides one objective basis for evaluating the improvement of work systems. It also provides a basis to help the operators to improve their productivity by employing the proper pace of working. In my article, I emphasizes that industrial engineering becomes durable and welcome discipline when a self employed person invites industrial engineers to help him to increase his productivity. The origins of industrial engineering were in factories and employees look at his industrial engineers with suspicion even today because of that reason. It is up to industrial engineering as a profession to take up improving the work of self employed persons and earn the reputation as a facilitators and coaches of operators in their quest for productivity.

This subject has to cover traditional methods as well as modern methods like MTM. A rating workshop has to be a compulsory part of this subject and institutes have to set up a common certifying body to test and certify the competency of the learners in these techniques. Presently in India, there is no certifying body.

Ergonomics

This subject deals various aspects related to humans at work and is application of concepts mainly from physiology and anatomy in work situations.

Economic Analysis for Industrial Engineering-I


There are books on Engineering Economy. But their focus on industrial engineering is negligible. There is a need for text book that has exclusive focus in application of engineering economy in industrial engineering practice. The economic analysis to be conducted by industrial engineers in various decisions related to work systems have to given as examples in texts focused on industrial engineering. Such a treatment of these subject will deepen the understanding of learners in the work systems design area also apart from the the topic of economic analysis.

Quantitative Techniques for Industrial Engineering

The comments made for the subject above apply in this case also. Books have to written with a special focus on application of quantitative techniques in industrial engineering decisions. Till that time, faculty in industrial engineering departments have to make special effort to develop examples that have relevance to methods improvement, methods design, selection of productivity devices, design of working conditions etc. Assignment problem is to be discussed with special reference to allotment of work to various operators based on the observed or measured efficiencies on various jobs undertaken in a shop. Transportation problem is to be discussed in relation to the transport of material within a plant.


Laboratory/Project Work

Rating workshop
Methods Improvement Project
Ergonomics


The importance of ‘rating workshop’ and ‘case studies in methods improvement’ was emphasized already. Ergonomics laboratory work has to deepen the skills the acquired by learners in physiology and anatomy laboratory practice and introduce them into measuring parameters of work places that are important in work systems design.

I request visitors to the blog to post their comments on issues they agree with and on issues they do not agree with.

For third term curriculum please see http://kvssnrao-ind-engg.blogspot.com/2007/06/industrial-engineering-human-effort_9148.html