Advanced companies aggressively invest in ergonomically designed working environments that bring focus and comfort to the tasks at hand in a graphics arts sector – where prices and profits are under tremendous pressure it is an investment well worthwhile, for time truly is money
In any industry, the advanced capabilities of its machines are the most striking signs of progress. Humans created them, developed them and have made use of them in all productive pursuits. But in so doing, machine designers have often overlooked the human dimension. And that creates limitations, for machines are only as ingenious as the people who create them and only as productive as those who operate them.Unfortunately, the way humans work with machines is often dictated by developers and designers who are somewhat out of touch with that reality. They have not properly considered the perspective of the operator. As a result, the design of the interfaces that marry man to machine fall by the wayside, and so too does the health, motivation and productivity of the worker.
Designing ergonomic machines that take care of the well being of employees is just as much an art as developing technical improvements. Designers need to bear in mind that incorporating ergonomic design into production systems is a key to raising workforce morale and satisfaction, which results in greater productivity
and profitability.
Trust in the machine
In the graphic arts sector in particular, advancing ergonomic design brings significant rewards. For example, not too many years ago, finishing systems had to be switched off before adjustments could be made. Now such fine-tuning takes place while profitable production continues. Each station is equipped with its own control panel that facilitates adjustments on the fly. A monitor screen lets the operator visualise changes. Meanwhile, clear, language-neutral button symbols, logically arranged, allow the operator to find his way around the machine with ease - to the point of being able to run the system with his
eyes closed.
That intimate level of communication between man and machine means that the employee has greater trust in his equipment and in his own work. So he is working smarter and working faster. And accelerated set-up and adjustment times result in increased efficiency and higher profits. This is an example of how technology and automation, working in harmony with the operator, can produce optimum results.
The concentration factor
THAT is not to say an ergonomic design pre-empts the need for human intelligence. For instance, because advanced finishing systems run constantly at a high rate of speed, a high level of concentration is required by the employees who feed them with paper. To stay sharp, it is important that they switch off among the system’s various workstations and work stages. The more user-friendly and standardised the various machines are, the more they can accommodate such ergonomic flexibility.
High speed production also means there is less time for the operator to rest during the feeding process. A single stack of paper does not present a problem, but manoeuvring countless piles over a period of a few hours can cause physical strain. Ergonomics comes to the rescue. By positioning conveyer belts at the proper working levels, machine manufacturers protect worker health and ensure that even the heaviest paper piles are handled with ease.
Looking good and feeling good
An employee who better understands how his system works is a more satisfied employee. “Our employees are proud of working on the collating machine at high speeds,” says the director of an Italian bookbindery.
The physical appearance of the system also affects employee pride. 'The sizzle sells the steak’ is an adage that points to the necessity of more contemporary machine design. A saddle stitcher or a perfect binder, designed with eye-pleasing lines, can provide a morale boost to any bindery. The first impression upon seeing the machine has a positive impact on both workers and customers.
“Design makes it sexy,” is the mantra of the technologically advanced designer. Or as Thomas Maier, Professor for Technical Design at the University of Stuttgart, puts it: “Modern machines do not only have to produce; they, as emotional components, have to com-municate too.”
That’s entertainment
Good design enhances a facility's aura of quality, while making production an entertaining experience for visitors. Well-designed finishing systems utiliSe tinted glass panels to make the product flow totally visible. That prompts viewer interest by revealing the intricate individual work processes - from the collating of the sheets, through stitching or gluing, right through to cutting and stacking. Such high visibility makes operators that much more enthusiastic about technology that conveys the quality of the machine as well as the quality of their own work.
An open, transparent design provides practical benefits as well. Being able to view and access vital machine components speeds troubleshooting, and ergono-mically configured doors make rapid intervention possible. Meanwhile, the availability of a well stocked toolkit at every workstation equips each operator with the means to remedy problems quickly.
Colour them competitive
Innovative technology and modern machine design ensure that graphic arts companies remain competitive - and the same applies to the operators who run the systems. This is why attention is paid to even the smallest detail in the course of development. The colour of the machine, for instance, can have a psychological effect on the well being and the motivation of the workforce.
When properly selected, the colour will trigger a pleasant feeling, be refreshing and have a calming effect upon the mind. The colour blue, for example, has a positive impact. It is associated with the sky, fidelity, harmony, balance and happiness.
Connecting with the company
If the chosen colour also corresponds with the company logo, then the perfect combination has been achieved. “Characteristics that are typical of the company should be immediately discernible for anybody within a split second, through the color and of course the design,” asserts the industrial designer Martin Bloch. Technology and design combined with colour ensure that both the owner of the production facility and his employ-ees will recognise the equipment when they see it again. If technological innovations and workplace ergonomics are applied rigorously and intelligently, the trust of the workforce can be enhanced. In fact, experienced operators can play an important role in the selection of a machine supplier. The trust of the employee can be the basis for the manufacturer and the production facility’s proprietor moving on together.
The upcoming drupa exhibition in Düsseldorf will show which technology company has completed the puzzle by correctly inserting the ergonomic piece.
