Assessment of Reduction in Job Heaviness in a Printing Department through Automation

Abstract

Initial concerns of management for the level of work required in a printing department spurred the initiation of a work physiology study to assess the heaviness of this work. Resulting figures showed a slight excess in demands made by the job over the capacities of the employees assigned to this department. Anticipating several weeks of even heavier work on special orders, the company purchased a new delivery system for two presses for use during the upcoming heavy job. Additional job cost studies were made during the special order run with the new equipment in operation. It was found that the difficult operation required substantially less effort and manpower than would have been needed without the new device in operation.