Abstract:
The objective of this research was to study and classify the risks of using a combine harvester by the application of failure mode and effect analysis technique.
This would suggest the procedures for maintaining the different parts of the combine harvesters. The respondents of this study consisted of 30 agriculturists in Angthong Province and the owners of the Thai-made combine harvesters. The data were collected through the use of questionnaires and interviews. The risk priority numbers were analyzed and assessed by using the failure mode and effect analysis technique with calculating the levels of severity, opportunity and detection. The value of risk priority number was more than 100 was considered as a critical risk. Risk groups were divided into three levels: high, medium and low. Each group of risks was analyzed to find out the root causes by applying the why-why analysis and expert interviews in order to verify the appropriate solution and prevention of each risk type.
The finding revealed that there were twenty-three risk types caused by using the combine harvesters. Nineteen of them were more than 100 were classifind as critical risks. The high risk groups were caused by the wear of the gear sets, which the users could not maintain by themselves and the combine harvesters would stop working without warning. The medium risk groups were caused by the wear of handling sets, which the users could maintain by themselves and were used temporarily. The low risk groups were the wear of cutting sets, which the users could maintain by themselves and were used further without damage to the combine harvesters and the products.