WALKTHROUGH METHODS FOR IMPROVING THE SYSTEM FIT TO THE USERS' TASKS WITHIN MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS

摘要

Designing an information system for manufacturing context has challenges, such as efficiency and user requirements. Therefore manufacturing systems should be evaluated with real users before their implementation. The purpose of the evaluation is to ensure that a system supports the work flows and that users are introduced to a new system in the early stages of design. Walkthrough methods provide means to simultaneously review a sequence of actions and involve the users in the design activities. In this paper, a pluralistic walkthrough method was used for evaluating a user interface of a manufacturing system. In the session, the target user groups performed predefined task scenarios with a paper prototype of the system. The results indicate that walkthrough methods could be applicable for the manufacturing systems design, and the results could improve the system design and the user acceptance.