Corporations worldwide confronting new market demands and intensified competition are responding with infrastructural change and a customer- centred approach. Such initiatives aim for business excellence, and involve enhancing the quality of performance in all areas of client service. Rapid technological change offers new tools to meet market challenges, and multiskilled employees operating flexible computer- integrated manufacturing systems are central in the struggle for the competitive edge. This book focuses on the effective implementation of socio-technical innovation, describing real experiences with the management of the human-computer interface.; It offers a series of practical examples of industrial experience, and each contribution concludes with a cost-benefit analysis. The importance of human-oriented system and product design is highlighted. The work is intended to be of use as a reference source for students of ergonomics and industrial, electrical and mechanical engineering, as well as executives and managers, designers and technical engineers.
