Occupational ergonomics research and applied contextual design implementation for an industrial shop-floor workstation

Publication date: July 2019Source: International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Volume 72Author(s): J. Sanjog, Thaneswer Patel, Sougata KarmakarAbstractThe aim of this original research article is to identify the occurrence of work-related ergonomics risk factors, in order to implement context specific human centered design interventions in the injection molding shop-floor workstations of plastic furniture manufacturing factories within the framework of industrially developing countries. Questionnaire study, postural assessment tools, computer aided design, digital human modeling and simulation, and basic work study techniques were used. Plastic processing industry is highly fragmented, consisting of small, medium scale enterprises with tremendous growth potential. Occupational design ergonomics research in the injection molding plastic furniture manufacturing shop-floor workstations is very scarce in industrially developing countries. Shop-floor workers are affected by prevalent awkward working postures and consequent body part discomforts. Useful and easily implementable accessories/fixtures with convenient design features were conceptualized. Virtual ergonomics evaluation of the workstation with proposed accessories/fixtures showed significant reduction of awkward working postures. Physical prototypes of the proposed fixtures were constructed and real human trials were performed in the factories. Time study indicated reduction in operator cycle time when compared with t...
Source: International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics - Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research