Work simplification

These various stages in the establishment and maintenance of a quality control program will be discussed. Examples will also be given of ways in which work simplification and automatic methods of analysis can lead to improvements in the reliability of chemical investigations. 

As these results accumulate, giving an indication of the reproducibility of the method, the need may arise to revise the warning and action limits, but drastic revision should not be undertaken until the source of any gross discrepancy between results for reproducibility and repeatability has been defined and, if possible, eliminated (e.g., by work simplification or further training of staff). 

After 30-40 years of methodological development and particularly the rapid changes of the last 10 years, many of the routine assays in use in clinical chemistry may be expected to continue in similar form for some time to come. From the standpoint of work study and work simplification, however, techniques are often still far from perfect, but, if the help of a work-study consultant is enlisted, he finds difficulty in giving advice on the simplification of bench techniques because of his lack of knowledge of the scientific principles involved. Clinical chemists must therefore, to a large extent, act as their own work-study consultants. 

All the automatic machines mentioned in Sections 5.4.3-5.4.5 employ advanced forms of work simplification, but the use of one or more of the... 

Work-simplification devices on the laboratory bench will be detailed under the headings of automatic dispensers, automatic diluters, and flowthrough colorimeters with digital read-out. In each group, examples will be given of equipment of which the authors have had personal experience, but a choice of alternative apparatus will be available in most instances. The instruments mentioned are not necessarily the simplest or cheapest obtainable for performing a particular function. 

The Application of Work-Simplification and Mechanical and Electrical Aids. To illustrate the application of work simplification, its... 

Fio. 8. Diagranunatic representation of the flame-photometric technique for the assay of Na and K in a single specimen of serum, before work simplification [Mitchell e< al. (MIO)]. 

Other examples of techniques in which work simplification has proved particularly valuable include enzyme assays. These usually require dilution of a serum sample with a buffered substrate, followed by incubation and subsequent addition of further reagents to develop a color. As one example, Table 2 shows in simplified form a method of assay for aspartate aminotransferase. The first three steps, entailing the addition of multiples of a constant volume, may be rapidly and accurately performed with an Analmatic proportioning pipet. 

Results of the Application of Work Simplification, Mechanization, and Automation... 

The advantages of work simplification of all types may be summarized as follows ... 

All these have an impact upon the reliability of the laboratory worker, and many of these advantages may be demonstrated by the results of the examples for work simplification (given in Section 5.4.2.2). 

Table 3 shows the results of introducing work simplification in the... 

Automatic analysis may be considered an extension of the techniques of work simplification discussed (Sections 5.4.2 and 6.1), and as such possesses the same advantages to a greater degree. Data will be presented for AutoAnalyzer performance only, since corresponding information for alternative systems is not yet available. 

Work simplification in total T4 by CPBA techniques has proceeded mainly by the kit approach rather than by automation, and these depend upon techniques such as Sephadex columns (H24, S7), Sephadex or Sephadex-Iike granules (Bl), fiber strips impregnated with ion exchange resin (T6), polyurethane sponge impregnated with resin (G6). For those who prefer not to be dependent upon kits there are simplified procedures to be set up in the laboratory dependent upon small Sephadex columns (B14) or ion-exchange resin strips (02). The kit approach can be combined with semiautomation, particularly of the pipetting steps (R4). 

R4. Renshaw, A., and Ward, R., Work simplification applied to Thyopac-3 and Thyopac-4 kits. Med. Lab. Technol. 31,149-157 (1974). 

Encourages work simplification to reduce standeud times. 

Apply methods improvement/work simplification techniques to plant engineering operations. 

Work simplification, 740 Work statements, see Work packages Workstations design of ... 

Working smarter. This level sees greater use of electronic transaction tools plus more sophisticated decision support and management by exception practices. The Stage 2 procurement function will undertake work simplification efforts to reduce manually processed transactions. There are attempts to better balance the requirements of suppliers and customer service with procurement playing a central role. 

Louis E. Datis, Work Methods Design and Work Simplification. 37... 

As an industrial engineering graduate, the author studied work simplification, plant layout and motion study, not for the purpose of reducing error, but rather to increase... 

Memo, Ex O OC CWS for Dir Pers ASF, 15 Jan 44, sub Work Simplification Indices and Pers Requirements for Zone of Interior Establishments of Tech Servs. CWS 200.3. 

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