Ergonomics in an Industrial Setting – A Case Study

Executive Summary

An industrial manufacturing enterprise faces an ergonomic dilemma affecting operators stationed at their glue station work environment. Workers of shorter stature face a poor ergonomic scenario when moving pre-glued air filters to their glue station that is leading to strain on their shoulders and adverse working conditions. The goal of this project is to address the poor ergonomic working conditions specifically affecting shorter stature workers through several solutions options. Three solution options are proposed to address and the above problem statement: A process redesign through ergonomically advantageously placed conveyor systems, a work station redesign through the use of vacu-hoist lifting technology, and a work station remediation through the use of pneumatic lift tables. Consideration of solution details, the effects of KPIs of the enterprise and weighting affect on the overall process lead to the suggestion of the work station remediation through the incorporation of lift tables as the most optimal solution in addressing the ergonomic problem statement.

Abstract. The design of a workstation in an industrial setting must account for numerous factors; including production capacity, space limitations, cost, and human factors. Among the human factors that must be accounted for are human ergonomics and the effects that the work station has on a human's physical condition in the work station and their ability to complete their assigned tasks. Just as work station design must balance numerous factors in its construction, human ergonomics as a design factor in work station design must balance optimal ergonomic qualities with other variables such as cost, production capacity, and ease of use. The following proceeding outlines a case study in analyzing an ergonomic dilemma in work station design in an industrial setting and potential solutions to optimize ergonomic factors in the working environment. In order to accomplish the goals of this process a literature review supports gathering background information on three potential work station solutions; a work station process design, work station redesign, or work station mitigation.