Improving The Efficiency of Parchment Coffee Sorting using ECRS Technique and Ergonomics: A Case Study of Farmers in Mae Chan Luang Village, Chiang Rai Province
Keywords:
coffee bean sorting, motion and time studyAbstract
The objective of this research was to improve the efficiency of Arabica parchment coffee sorting using the ECRS technique and ergonomics. The study focused on the process of sorting parchment coffee manually and investigated the working methods using a left-right hand diagram. The aim was to find ways to standardize the working process by applying the principles of ECRS, which include ‘eliminate’, ‘combine’, ‘rearrange’, and ‘simplify’. Additionally, the research applied ergonomic principles to improve the parchment coffee sorting process. After studying the pre-improvement sorting process, which consisted of 16 steps, it was found that the average time taken by workers to sort parchment coffee was 3.54 minutes per kilogram. By implementing the principles of ECRS and ergonomics, unnecessary movements were reduced, unnecessary steps in the process were eliminated, a coffee bean sorting table was used, and sorting was done using both hands. The results showed that the working process was reduced to 7 steps, and the standard time for sorting parchment coffee by workers after the improvement was 3.06 minutes per kilogram, which is a reduction of 0.48 minutes per kilogram. This indicates a 13.6% increase in the efficiency of parchment coffee sorting.
References
Iniam, C., Liewtrakul, P. & Ramanchit, S. (2023). The Optimization of Grass Brooms Production: A Case study of Ban Talay Bok Community, Ban Talay Subdistrict, Don Chedi District, Suphanburi Province. Industrial Technology Lampang Rajabhat University Journal, 16(1), 1-13. (in Thai).
Luesak, P. & Sanguanpang, S. (2017). Process improvement of separating seeds roselle using ECRS technique. Naresuan University Engineering Journal, 12(2), 41-54. (in Thai).
Office of Agricultural Economics. (2021). Coffee: The cultivation area, yield, and productivity per Rai, aggregated by country, region, and province in 2020. [online], Available: https://www.oae.go.th/assets/portals/1/fileups/prcaidata/
files/coffee63(2).pdf. access on March 24, 2021. (in Thai)
Rawangwong, S., Homkhiew, C., Sani, S., Rodjananugoon, J., Tehyo, M. (2020). Efficiency improvement in assembly rubber wooden toys using motion and time study and principles of ergonomics: A case study of a sample factory. Princess of Naradhiwas University Journal, 12(2), 97-112. (in Thai).
Rijirawanich, W. (2005). Work study: Principle and case study (4th ed). Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University. (in Thai).
Sunarak, T. (2016). Production line efficiency improvement: The case study of powder product packing line. Thai Industrial Engineering Network Journal, 2(3), 51-60. (in Thai).
Techanant, P. (2017). Quality of Arabica coffee seeds and some soil properties under various forms of cultivation by Akkha ethnic group at Baan Maipattana, Wawee Sub-District, Maesuay District, Chiang Rai Province. [Unpublished Master Thesis]. Maejo University (in Thai).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Industry Technology Lampang Rajabhat University
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
