Can I read Ergonomic Effects of a Management-based Rationalization in Assembly Work — a Case Study on EtoBox?

Ergonomic Effects of a Management-based Rationalization in Assembly Work — a Case Study by Shihan Bao; Svend Erik Mathiassen; Jørgen Winkel is a Psychology article available to read on EtoBox.

What is Ergonomic Effects of a Management-based Rationalization in Assembly Work — a Case Study about?

Due to unsatisfactory productivity, a large company in the Swedish manufacturing industry decided to rationalize their assembly system. The intended rationalization comprised several changes with deliberate ergonomic implications. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of the rationalization on the physical work load of the operators. The work load was assessed before and after the changes using expert observations, company records and direct technical measurements. The results indicate that the intervention led to only minor changes in muscle load, body postures and movement patterns. Several of the planned initiatives were never implemented, e.g. teaching the workers multiple skills and designing work stations at which a major part of the assembly sequence could be performed. This was mainly due to a policy revision caused by changes in the market situation. In spite of the company's original intentions, the revised production system contained only minor ergonomic improvements. Thus, the realization of the ergonomic potential in a rationalization seems to depend on management culture, as well as factors outside the company.

Who reads Ergonomic Effects of a Management-based Rationalization in Assembly Work — a Case Study?

Author

Shihan Bao; Svend Erik Mathiassen; Jørgen Winkel

Publisher

Elsevier Science; Elsevier ; Elsevier Ltd.; Elsevier BV (ISSN 0003-6870)

Published

1996

Language

EN

Field

Psychology (Social Sciences)