Overview

This unit of study aims to introduce you to the fundamental principles of Work Systems in Manufacturing, and to develop an understanding of the nature and application of these principles to Human-Machine Systems.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Apply skills for analysing work systems (K1, K4, A2, A4, S1, S2)
  • Describe basic skills for analysing human-machine systems (K1, K4, S1, S2, S3, A2)
  • Demonstrate the appreciation of work systems for current/modern manufacturing systems (K3, K4, K5, A2, A4, A7)
  • Discuss significant factors in the effectiveness and effectiveness of work system management (K3, K4, K5, A2, A4, A7)
  • Predict the impact of current techno/economic trends on manufacturing systems (K3,K4, K5, A2, A4, A7)

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Lecture		 3.00  6 weeks  18
Live Online
Lecture		 3.00 6 weeks 18
Unspecified Learning Activities
Independent Learning		 9.5 12 weeks  114
TOTAL     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Examination Individual  30 - 40%  1,2,3 
Presentation Individual 10 - 20% 1,2,3,4,5
Project Report Individual/Group  20 - 40%  1,3,4,5
Quizzes Individual  10 - 15%  1,2,3 

Hurdle

As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve: 

(i) an aggregate mark of 50% or more, and
(ii) at least 40% in the final exam.

Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement will receive a maximum of 45% as the total mark for the unit.

Content

  • Introduction to the role of persons in advanced manufacturing
  • Performance measurement and productivity in work place
  • Work systems
    • Manual work and work teams within human-machine systems, covering analysis of cycle times and workload
    • Work flow and manufacturing configurations, including sequential operations, cellular manufacture, assembly lines and logistics
  • Methods engineering and layout planning, covering operations analysis, motion study and work design, and systematic layout planning
  • Human factors of work, covering physical (work physiology and anthropometry) and cognitive ergonomics (human sensory system and information processing)
  • Human-machine systems, covering the allocation of physical and cognitive functions between human and machine, human supervisory control (vigilance in monitoring, troubleshooting degradation in performance)
  • Work management, covering work organisation, worker motivation, entrepreneurship and technology

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.