Computers ind. Engng Vol. 17, Nos 1-4, pp. 514-518, 1989 0360-8352/89 53.00 + 0.00 Printed in Great Britain, All rights reserved Copyright ~© I989 Pergamon Press pie ERGONOMIC ISSUES IN QUALITY CONTROL Ahmad K. Elshennawy, Chin H. Lee, and Mary I. Hines Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida ABSTRACT This paper explores the characteristics of the quality control functionwith a focus on ergonomics design to the production system. The objective is to provide a set of design attributes to aid in the work environment which enhances the quality control function. It is important to recognize the operator as being an important part of the man/machine interface. According to Biberman, "The human part of the system deserves special attention: As a critical part of any man/machine system, the human operator receives information, processes it, and takes some specific action upon the system" (1973, p. 92). The thought of quality usually forms a mental picture consisting of uniformity, the conformity to an established standard, or a degree of consistence in production. Another definition is the totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bear on its abilities to satisfy a given need (Stevens 1981). INTRODUCTION One objective we all have is to do a high quality job in a cost effective manner. Throughout the manufacturing life cycle we are faced with the term quality. Quality control can be found in the conceptual design stages, the developing aspects of production, in manufacturing procedures, the distribution stages, and in maintaining the finished product. If we can remove the industrial aspects to this we can see that these also happen to be functions of human performance. Due to the element of human interaction, each task in the total life cycle of a product is subject to various types of human errors. Hajek (1977) defines quality as the implementation of the procedures and means by which the quality of an element or system being produced is maintained and screened. He also states four general areas of quality control: To certify that the machinery used for production and the tools and instruments used for measurement and inspection have the necessary quality and accuracies. Establish adequate provision for complete and accurate instructions, drawings, etc., with which to do the task. In order that the required quality control be carded out, the responsible workers must have the proper information. There needs to be an adequate plan of inspection (the in-house shop production as well as the purchased components). To maintain a consistent standard of implementing quality control by periodically checking and calibration of the instruments and tools used for inspection so as not to permit a deterioration of the quality control program. QUALITY CONTROL There are two basic branches in quality control, the quality of conformance and the quality of performance (Bailey 1982). The quality of conformance is the extent to which a product of system complies with its specifications or requirements. Quality of conformance considers such areas as defect analysis and correction. On the other hand, the quality of performance of a product of a system is determined in large measure by its quality of design and conformance. Maintaining both at a high level should result in a high quality of performance. We must establish what factors actually are responsible for influencing human performance in order to develop a quality assurance program which could minimize the degree of human errors. If the ultimate goal for an organization is to improve human performance, we must approach each stage of development with human factor principles a priority. This is important in the design, development, and evaluation of new tools/equipment. The training, effective techniques, and job aids must also be based with this perspective in mind. The objective of quality assurance is to aid management in whatever function necessary so that they can deliver the quality of a product in the most economical manner possible. A quality assurance program is usually evaluated by the amount of quality vs. cost the company can 514