Construction of a knowledge-based system for diagnosing the sociotechnical integration in advanced manufacturing technologies

Abstract

The purpose of this research has been to identify and summarize principles that have appeared in Human Factors, Manufacturing, and Management literature that apply to an ideal Sociotechnical Integration (STI) of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMTs) and to develop a Knowledge-Based System prototype that, using these principles, can help diagnose the degree of STI present in an organization that has upgraded or is planning to upgrade its manufacturing facilities with AMTs. An abbreviated version of the system, with only one fifth of the questions, was tested in several Japanese companies, where it could diagnose with a fair accuracy the level of STI present in them, showing strengths and weaknesses in the area of STI of these companies. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.