Identification of Relationships between Operator Utilization and Real Process Capacity in Automated Manufacturing

 In automated manufacturing there is continuous interaction between humans and machines. The utilization of those resources affects the capacity of manufacturing processes and consequently the performance of manufacturing systems. This paper presents an approach that incorporates productivity analysis tools and techniques to explain how manufacturing resource utilization relates to capacity and how the capacity can be improved. The findings are relevant for both academics and practitioners that are interested in understanding the effects of shop floor productivity improvements on capacity. 