Using Poka-yoke methods to improve employment potential of intellectually disabled workers

 

 

N.F. Treurnicht^I; M.M. Blanckenberg^II; H.G. van Niekerk^III

^IDepartment of Industrial Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, nicotr@sun.ac.za
^IIDepartment of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, mike@sun.ac.za
^IIIDepartment of Industrial Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, hgvniekerk@gmail.com

 

 

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ABSTRACT

In this project an electronic manufacturing process, namely ribbon cable assembly, was adapted for execution by intellectually disabled individuals. To make the work accessible to them, human error was controlled by a Poka-yoke approach. The design of the work process used industry standard tooling. Mistake-proofing design identified possible errors, and introduced mechanisms and tests that enabled the worker to avoid them. Test results were analysed using learning theory. It is concluded that intellectually disabled individuals can be enabled to perform the task within normal variation compared with a minimum task time, by using the Poka-yoke approach. Selection, however, is desirable.

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OPSOMMING

'n Elektroniese vervaardigingsproses, naamlik platkabelsamestelling, word aangepas vir uitvoering deur intellektueel gestremde persone. Vir toeganklikheid deur hierdie groep, word menslike foute beheer deur die Poka-yoke-benadering. Die ontwerp van die werkproses maak gebruik van standaard nywerheidgereedskap. Die ontwerp fokus daarop om die moontlikheid van foute te identifiseer en kenmerke, meganismes, en toetsapparaat te inkorporeer om die voorkoms daarvan onmoontlik te maak. Toetsresultate word ontleed met leerteorie. Die slotsom is dat intellektueel gestremde persone bemagtig kan word, met die Poka-yoke-benadering, om hierdie taak uit te voer binne normale variasie vergeleke met die minimum taaktyd. Keuring is wel wenslik.

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