Lindroos, Ola
(2010).
Scrutinizing the theory of comparative time studies with operator as a block effect.
International journal of forest engineering. 21
:1
, 20-30
[Journal article]
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Abstract
The existence of considerable productivity differences between operators is well known in forestry work studies. Several techniques have been developed to manage operator (i.e. inter-individual) effects and thus enable general conclusions to be drawn. In the Nordic countries inter-individual variations have generally been managed by using ‘within-operator’ comparisons. The methodology is equivalent to the statistical method of blocking, when defining each operator as a block effect. Unfortunately this approach has traditionally been referred to as “comparative studies”, although it only addresses one of many possible components of genuine comparative work studies. In the traditional motivation for usage of operator blocking it is assumed that productivity relationships between work methods are independent of the operator if the same operator works with both methods. Hence, comparisons of relative productivity should ignore inter-individual variations, enabling universal productivity relationships between methods/conditions of interest to be determined. Unfortunately this assumption has of-ten been taken literally, with expectations of productivity relationships to be identical between individuals instead of on a population level. In this article the literal approach is scrutinized using the time taken by 12 operators to undertake various tasks in an experimental study of firewood processing with different machine systems and round wood types. Operators, as a population, did respond in a similar manner to treatments, but there was great variation between individuals. Hence, the assumptions of literally uniform individual productivity relationships should, therefore, be replaced by a population based theoretical foundation, which justifies the continued use of operator blocking to objectively handle the inevitable operator effect in forestry work studies.
Authors/Creators: | Lindroos, Ola |
---|---|
Title: | Scrutinizing the theory of comparative time studies with operator as a block effect |
Series Name/Journal: | International journal of forest engineering |
Year of publishing : | 2010 |
Volume: | 21 |
Number: | 1 |
Page range: | 20-30 |
Publisher: | Forest Products Society |
ISSN: | 1494-2119 |
Language: | English |
Publication Type: | Journal article |
Refereed: | Yes |
Article category: | Scientific peer reviewed |
Version: | Published version |
Full Text Status: | Public |
Agris subject categories.: | E Economics, development, and rural sociology > E12 Labour and employment J Handling, transport, storage and protection of agricultural products > J12 Handling, transport, storage and protection of forest products K Forestry > K11 Forest engineering U Auxiliary disciplines > U30 Research methods |
Subjects: | (A) Swedish standard research categories 2011 > 2 Engineering and Technology > 203 Mechanical Engineering > Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Egonomics (A) Swedish standard research categories 2011 > 4 Agricultural Sciences > 401 Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries > Forest Science |
Keywords: | Work studies, relative time studies, statistical analysis, methodology, experimental studies, human performance |
URN:NBN: | urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-e-179 |
Permanent URL: | http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-e-179 |
ID Code: | 8227 |
Department: | (S) > Dept. of Forest Resource Management (NL, NJ) > Dept. of Forest Resource Management |
Deposited By: | Ola Lindroos |
Deposited On: | 17 Aug 2011 07:06 |
Metadata Last Modified: | 02 Dec 2014 10:46 |
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