Socio-technical networks: a tool for integrating the maintenance dimension in the design of equipment for small food-processing units in Western Africa
by Frederic Bationo, C. Marouze, J.F. Boujut, Francois A. Giroux
J. of Design Research (JDR), Vol. 8, No. 1, 2009

Abstract: In Burkina Faso, as in other Western African countries, maintenance in small food-processing units is carried out by several actors. These actors form an informal network and contribute to ensuring that equipment is operationally available in a more or less satisfactory manner. Our field studies have revealed how important informal networks are in the economic life of African countries, especially those in West Africa. This paper describes a formal method for representing and analysing sociotechnical maintenance networks and proposes its integration within the wider framework of the CESAM design method. Three types of equipment illustrate the above hypothesis. Lessons learned from the analysis of the representations have served as a basis for an improvement of the CESAM design methodology that ensure that, during the design phase, the maintenance aspects are reasonably tackled.

Online publication date: Sat, 16-Jan-2010

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