Mikael Blomé

Computer supported visualisation of quality systems developed by network teams

This paper reports a pilot study and three case studies to examine aimed at studying if a quality system, according to the ISO 9000 quality standard, can be visualised, exploring how the visualisation should be designed in order to support continuous improvements and evaluating the design process for development of prototypes. By discussing with the research team, three companies in southern Sweden set up design teams to establish principles for visualisations of their quality systems on their intranets. Together with one of the researchers, the design teams created and evaluated computer supported prototypes and exchanged ideas between the teams via the Internet. The results show that quality systems can be adequately visualised and that the companies preferred descriptions of the physical plant layout containing symbols that connect to further information by hyperlinks. A quality system based on computer supported visualisation will make the quality system more understandable and have better possibilities to engage personnel in the quality work; it will be faster, easier, and more interesting to use than systems with only paper documents. The use of design teams with access to each others prototypes via the Internet supported the design process by stimulating generation of ideas and solutions to visualise a quality system.

Simulation of Human-Vehicle Interaction in Vehicle Design at Saab Automobile: Present and Future

Developers, reviewers and users of human simulation tools claim that the use of these tools may reduce development time and development cost. However, before these benefits will be fully visible, there are some barriers to overcome. The aims of this case study are to identify which departments at Saab Automobile use some sort of human simulation tool today, and to identify the information flow and procedure when the tool is used. Four departments crash safety, packaging, production planning and vehicle ergonomics were identified as direct users of human simulation tools. The tools used were finite element with crash dummy representation, SAE human model, Safework and Ramsis. Communications between human simulation tool users are limited. Communications are done through the project management. The crash safety and packaging departments have formal descriptions of the human simulation process, whereas production planning and vehicle ergonomics have no formal process descriptions. To gain from the benefits of human simulation tools, Saab Automobile needs to adapt them to the organization and the organization to the tools. Integration of a working methodology is essential for effective and efficient use in the other human simulation departments where this is currently lacking. (Less)

Identifying Time-Consuming Human Modelling Tool Activities

The aim of this study was to identify and measure timeconsuming human modelling tool activities. Five human modelling tool users at Volvo were observed for five days each. The results showed a wide distribution of both indirect and direct working tasks, as well as nonvalue added tasks such as waiting time. Most of the activities identified appear to be necessary to perform human modelling simulations of high quality. However, the time distribution could be questioned to some extent. There are many activities associated with communication, including a variety of contacts and meetings, where there appears to be potential to increase efficiency.

Visualization and establishment of product design regulations as interactive modules: an interaction design study at IKEA

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the preferable manner for visualizing different product regulations to be used in the training of and communication between people working at different levels in the production process. Many organizations struggle to communicate important and compulsory regulations, but the intended users are often reluctant to use them. Design/methodology/approach – The study has an action research approach, and the visualized regulations were the result of a human-centered design process that considered aspects for successful organizational change. Findings – The action research approach proved to be a successful framework to design the transformation of well-constructed illustrations in interactive guides, communicate and convince managers and users of the potential of the concept, develop a number of different well-functioning guides and establish regulations with illustrative elements and interactivity in a long-term perspective of an organization. Research limitations/implication...

Attitudes toward elderly workers and perceptions of integrated age management practices

This qualitative study investigates attitudes toward elderly workers and their work situation in different sectors, and explores perceptions and organizational measures that can enable an extended working life. Previous age management studies indicate that there are several interconnected measures and key areas of importance, and that there is a general need for strategies to strengthen sustainable age management at the organizational level. A structured content analysis was used to analyze data from focus group interviews with informants from a variety of organizations. The study identified three themes that highlight attitudes and perceptions of integrated age management practices: (a) contemporary policies and practices in the work environment; (b) social participation and attitudes; (c) experience and mentorship. These themes can form the basis of a good approach to an integrated age management strategy. Such a strategy can be achieved through intervention studies where research on sustainable working life meets the real problems faced by employees and managers.

Visualizing design problems and solutions of workstations on ships

The prevailing knowledge of ergonomics is not always taken into consideration while designing ships or introduced too late for it to be effective. Studies have shown that improvements of the working environment can be done with small efforts. Dissemination of research results is not always straight forward or effective due to failure to present research findings in appropriate and accessible forms for different audiences Research suggests that an interactive and explorative learning experience should be supported by technology like web resources. To reach the end users involved in the design of ships, the aim of the current study was to design and evaluate a prototype of an interactive multimedia module. The results showed good scores considering the usability aspects learning, understanding and meaningfulness. A Multimedia module like this can serve two purposes; create a learning situation and be used as a channel through which research results can be disseminated.

Understanding safety culture by visualization of scenarios - development and evaluation of an interactive prototype

To be able to disseminate knowledge about maritime safety culture and safety management to different actors in the Swedish maritime sector, a preliminary pedagogical concept was developed and evaluated. As a first user group, students at upper secondary maritime schools were chosen and the pedagogical concept was adapted for this group. The concept includes an interactive prototype and a teachers guide and is based on a model for experience-based learning which connects theory and practice by a cyclic approach. The concept was tested in a classroom setting including interaction with the students and a follow-up one week later. A preliminary evaluation of the results shows a very positive response among the students as well as the lecturers. The educational material was successful in immediately creating a relevant discussion about safety culture, and one week later, students could remember many of the safety scenarios included in the pedagogical concept.

Visualization of regulations to support design and quality control--a long-term study.

The aim of the study was to visualize design regulations of furniture by means of interactive technology based on earlier studies and practical examples. The usage of the visualized regulations was evaluated on two occasions: at the start when the first set of regulations was presented, and after six years of usage of all regulations. The visualized regulations were the result of a design process involving experts and potential users in collaboration with IKEA of Sweden AB. The evaluations by the different users showed a very positive response to using visualized regulations. The participative approach, combining expertise in specific regulations with visualization of guidelines, resulted in clear presentations of important regulations, and great attitudes among the users. These kinds of visualizations have proved to be applicable in a variety of product areas at IKEA, with a potential for further dissemination. It is likely that the approaches to design and visualized regulations in this case study could function in other branches.

Computer supported visualization of ergonomic guidelines

This study attempts to discover how ergonomic guidelines should be visualized in order to make it easier and more interesting to find and interpret the guidelines throughout the construction process. A prototype visualizing ergonomic guidelines at the intranet has been developed and evaluated at a company that produces cars for the global market. The results shows that the visualization of ergonomic guidelines should preferably be based on a picture of the physical car with hyperlinked segments easy to relate to a group of guidelines or a specific guideline. A specific ergonomic guideline should preferably have measurements related to pictures of car objects and human body parts.

Enhanced production processes through network groups

Increased focus on core activities in manufacturing companies makes cross-organizational collaboration necessary to develop and produce complex products or systems. To enhance the production process efficiency of a network, companies have to go beyond formal routines and learn about each others, and thus their common, production process. The interaction between members of an organization and outside scientists encourages the members to reflect on their work. To improve a business there is a need of diversity, but also a need for understanding different viewpoints. Thus, it is necessary to create constructive conflicts among a variety of viewpoints.