Title: Multi-response ergonomic evaluation of female CNC machine operators

Authors: Imtiaz Ali Khan

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, UP, 202002, India

Abstract: This work contributes to research improving performance in a human-CNC machine interface environment. A salient contribution of this study is the use of a load cell to measure human-performance. Based on a Taguchi experimental design, a full factorial design consisting of 27 experiments was used to collect data on human performance. The collected data were analysed using grey relational analysis, analysis of variance and the F-test. ANOVA was performed using Design-Expert software. This study represents an effective approach for the optimisation of a female-CNC machine interface environment with multi-performance characteristics. The following main conclusions were drawn from the analysis: 1) the combination of parameters and their levels for the optimum multi-performance characteristics of a HCMI environment using female operators were A₁B₂C₁ (i.e., a CNC machine panel height of 90 cm, a panel angle of 60 degrees and a working distance of 10 cm); 2) an improvement of 33.06% in the multi-performance characteristics, i.e., the grey relational grade was achieved through this approach.

Keywords: multi-response evaluation; search time; motor action time; applied force; ergonomics; human factors; female operators; CNC machine operators; CNC machining; women operators; human-machine interface; HMI; Taguchi methods; experimental design; human performance; grey relational analysis; GRA; analysis of variance; ANOVA; F-test.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFE.2014.062549

International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 2014 Vol.3 No.1, pp.32 - 64

Received: 17 Oct 2013
Accepted: 04 Apr 2014
Published online: 31 Jul 2014 *

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