Digitalization of Whiteboard for Work Task Allocation to Support Information Sharing between Operators and Supervisor
Paper in proceeding, 2017

The increase of complexity in modern production systems has put new demands on shop-floor operators. Therefore, proper sharing of information on shop-floors has become more important as means to support operators’ cognition. To this aim, the development of Information and Communication Technology has provided new support tools, but many of these tools lack empirical testing in live production. This paper studies how information sharing between operators and supervisor, at a small production company, is affected by the use of one of these tools: namely, replacing a whiteboard for work task allocation with a digital counterpart. In this study, questionnaires, polls, and interviews about the operators’ perception towards shared information and its quality were assessed. This assessment was based on the MEET model, which includes both an organizational and an informational perspective for studying various areas that affect meetings and information sharing. The results indicate that, while the information quality was improved by the digital whiteboard, the Organization System supporting the changed Information System need to keep up with the changes. Future practice needs to better match the two systems, and research needs to study the relations of the subcomponents of the two systems.

Management of technology developments

MEET

Information sharing

Management of competences and knowledge

Organization System

Digital whiteboard

Shop-floor operators

Cognitive aspects of automation systems and humans

Information System

Author

Dan Li

Chalmers, Product and Production Development, Production Systems

Åsa Fasth Berglund

Chalmers, Product and Production Development, Production Systems

Anna Dean

Chalmers, Product and Production Development, Production Systems

Lars Ruud

LaRay AB

IFAC-PapersOnLine

24058963 (eISSN)

Vol. 50 1 13044-13051

20th World Congress of the International-Federation-of-Automatic-Control (IFAC)
Toulouse, France,

Subject Categories

Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics

Communication Studies

Areas of Advance

Production

DOI

10.1016/j.ifacol.2017.08.2003

More information

Latest update

5/7/2019 1