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1 – 10 of over 2000This paper addresses some ergonomic issues in the ISO 9000‐based quality assurance. Ergonomics ‐ the study of human factors in engineering and design of systems is briefly touched…
Abstract
This paper addresses some ergonomic issues in the ISO 9000‐based quality assurance. Ergonomics ‐ the study of human factors in engineering and design of systems is briefly touched on. Then, outlines of ISO 9001 and ISO 9004 quality system models are provided, and all 20 requirements requirements of the current ISO 9001:9004 standard are presented in an ergonomic light. Subsequently, human factors in the documentation and implementation of a quality system are illustrated. The relevance of ergonomic studies in the development of service systems is addressed. Finally, a blueprint for an ergonomic assurance system, defined as a set of interrelated resources and processes that function in order to achieve objectives related to ergonomic design and use of products and processes, is provided.
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V. Kamala, S. Yamini and M.S. Gajanand
This research paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the ergonomic risks faced by employees in the IT industry who work from home (WFH). With the increasing prevalence…
Abstract
Purpose
This research paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the ergonomic risks faced by employees in the IT industry who work from home (WFH). With the increasing prevalence of remote work, understanding and addressing ergonomic challenges are crucial to ensure the well-being, productivity and long-term health of IT professionals.
Design/methodology/approach
The data are gathered through a survey questionnaire which includes demographic factors, job-related factors, quick video display terminal (VDT) workspace evaluation factors, quick chair design usability evaluation factors and the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ) in order to measure the ergonomic risks among them. The risk factors associated with each body part are determined using ordinal logistic regression.
Findings
Highest occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders was observed in the neck, hip and lower back among WFH employees. By identifying and prioritizing these risks, organizations and individuals can implement effective strategies to promote a healthy and ergonomic work environment for remote IT employees.
Originality/value
This research contributes new insights that will be helpful for researchers and practitioners working in the areas of ergonomic risks, improving performance of work from home employees and provides suggestions for future research to explore and enrich the existing knowledge base.
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Aparicio Afonso Santos, Luciana Paula Reis and June Marques Fernandes
Many advanced technologies applied to maintenance are aimed at data analysis and not directly at the execution of activities. Considering the lack of studies that analyze the use…
Abstract
Purpose
Many advanced technologies applied to maintenance are aimed at data analysis and not directly at the execution of activities. Considering the lack of studies that analyze the use of technologies with a focus on aiding maintenance activities, this study aims to investigate the applicability of advanced technologies capable of mitigating ergonomic risks in mining maintenance activities.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed-method study approach was performed in the most important Brazilian mining company, where three groups of equipment were observed: pumps, crushers and sieves. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected, including structured interviews with 60 maintenance professionals for the equipment, and a workshop was held to evaluate the applicability of these technologies in the maintenance activity of this equipment.
Findings
It was verified that the load handler, weight cancelers and automatically guided vehicle technologies were assessed as capable of mitigating ergonomic problems of the supporting the weight of parts and tools and the human traction during maintenance activities.
Research limitations/implications
The study observed only one company, and the five technologies analyzed here are not yet a reality in this sector.
Practical implications
This research directs maintenance managers in the implementation of process improvements, in the incorporation of technologies capable of mitigating the ergonomic problems experienced by the maintenance professionals. In this way, it is expected to reduce the number of absences from work and improve the working conditions of these professionals.
Social implications
Mining activities impact the local economy and are important in the development of technologies that improve productivity and the man–work relationship. The demands of industries for new solutions encourage local technological development through an approximation with university research and development centers. At the same time, it is observed that these centers can help in the formation of competences to act, either in the implementation of these technologies or in their handling. This university–company integration, in addition to benefiting the mining segment, has the potential to expand the solution to different supply chains, which proves to be a relevant social impact.
Originality/value
This study is pioneering in understanding the use of advanced technologies in maintenance activities in the context of the mining industry (extractive primary sector).
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Betty G. Dillard and Tina Frazier Schwager
Reports on a study for which data were generated from responses to a survey by 132 US apparel manufacturers in 1993. States that the purpose of the study was to determine the…
Abstract
Reports on a study for which data were generated from responses to a survey by 132 US apparel manufacturers in 1993. States that the purpose of the study was to determine the extent to which companies were investing in ergonomic equipment as a prevention strategy, and whether there was a relationship between such investments and positive results in four areas: increased productivity, increased quality, decreased workers’ compensation costs and improved employee morale. Using chi‐square analysis, a significant difference was found for those who invested in automatic sewing equipment in both increased productivity and increased quality. Provides justification for companies to invest in ergonomic equipment because of additional benefits.
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Wei Fang, Mingyu Fu and Lianyu Zheng
This paper aims to perform the real-time and accurate ergonomics analysis for the operator in the manual assembly, with the purpose of identifying potential ergonomic injuries…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to perform the real-time and accurate ergonomics analysis for the operator in the manual assembly, with the purpose of identifying potential ergonomic injuries when encountering labor-excessive and unreasonable assembly operations.
Design/methodology/approach
Instead of acquiring body data for ergonomic evaluation by arranging many observers around, this paper proposes a multi-sensor based wearable system to track worker’s posture for a continuous ergonomic assessment. Moreover, given the accurate neck postural data from the shop floor by the proposed wearable system, a continuous rapid upper limb assessment method with robustness to occasional posture changes, is proposed to evaluate the neck and upper back risk during the manual assembly operations.
Findings
The proposed method can retrieve human activity data during manual assembly operations, and experimental results illustrate that the proposed work is flexible and accurate for continuous ergonomic assessments in manual assembly operations.
Originality/value
Based on the proposed multi-sensor based wearable system for posture acquisition, a real-time and high-precision ergonomics analysis is achieved with the postural data arrived continuously, it can provide a more objective indicator to assess the ergonomics during manual assembly.
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Janarthanan Balakrishnan, Yogesh K. Dwivedi, Anubhav Mishra, F. Tegwen Malik and Mihalis Giannakis
Given the growth of virtual reality (VR)-based tourism experiences in the past five years, this study aims to investigate the impact of VR-based interactions (ergonomics and…
Abstract
Purpose
Given the growth of virtual reality (VR)-based tourism experiences in the past five years, this study aims to investigate the impact of VR-based interactions (ergonomics and embodiment) on memorable experiences and revisit intention mediated by cognitive and emotional responses.
Design/methodology/approach
This study has used an exploratory sequential mixed methodology research design to operationalise this research. Study 1 uses qualitative in-depth interviews to explore the proposed research questions, and Study 2 uses a 3 × 3 factorial experimental research design to test the proposed hypothetical model with 355 samples.
Findings
The results indicate that embodiment plays a more crucial role than VR ergonomics. Also, the cognitive response in the virtual tour indirectly generates a more memorable experience than the emotional response.
Research limitations/implications
This research uses the theory of technological mediation as an overarching framework to conceptualise the research. Also, the research has applied the tenets of cognitive embodiment theory, metacognitive theory and other related theories to develop the arguments. Thus, the results of this research will extend the holistic understanding of these theories.
Practical implications
This research will guide VR tourism developers in understanding the requirements and expectations of tourists. It also serves as a manual to understand how tourists process the VR tour psychologically.
Originality/value
Very minimal focus was given to understanding the tourists’ interaction with technology in VR tours. The concept of ergonomics and embodiment investigated as an experimental variable is a novel approach in technology-based tourism research.
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Naeem Gul Gilal, Jing Zhang and Faheem Gul Gilal
In the modern era, the significance of product design has increased because customers’ priorities in the evaluation of products have changed from product price to product design…
Abstract
Purpose
In the modern era, the significance of product design has increased because customers’ priorities in the evaluation of products have changed from product price to product design. Companies consider product design to be one of the most important sources of competitive advantage and standards for evaluating their performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop and validate a new scale to measure product design along with its dimensions.
Design/methodology/approach
An extensive literature review and consumer interviews and surveys were conducted to generate an initial item pool. Exploratory factor analysis was used to reduce the initial item pool, and confirmatory factor analysis was performed for measurement validation. A total of four separate studies were conducted for the conceptualization and operationalization of a product design scale.
Findings
Using data from three samples, the authors develop and validate a new scale to measure product design along affective, cognitive, ergonomic and reflective dimensions. Furthermore, the results provide strong evidence of the reliability, discriminant validity, measurement invariance and nomological validity of the four product design dimensions. Finally, the effects of these product design dimensions on harmonious and obsessive brand passion were assessed. The results show that the affective and reflective dimensions appear to be prominent for capturing the obsessive brand passion, whereas the cognitive and ergonomic dimensions are capable of increasing harmonious brand passion.
Originality/value
This is the first study that develops and validates the measurement of product design as a four-dimensional construct that can be transferred to a scale and applied across a wide range of product categories.
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Sheau‐yueh J. Chao, Ching Chang and Belinda Chiang
The impact of computer technology on libraries is changing the face of information services and how these services are delivered. It is significant that human interaction with…
Abstract
The impact of computer technology on libraries is changing the face of information services and how these services are delivered. It is significant that human interaction with computers prevails all service‐oriented institutions, especially libraries where circulation, reference, and technical services are fully automated and depend on computers for information access and retrieval via patron files and online public access catalogs. Libraries spend lots of time on implementing and upgrading electronic services and library functions. However, the human factors are generally overlooked. This article will provide a systematic way to address employee safety and health issues in the library through background readings, library ergonomics in literature, current technologies on ergonomic product design and a case study of ergonomics program implementation at Queens College Library, the City University of New York.
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The advancement of electronic technology and popularity of computer use have resulted in a variety of work related hand, wrist and arm injuries in computer operators. The…
Abstract
The advancement of electronic technology and popularity of computer use have resulted in a variety of work related hand, wrist and arm injuries in computer operators. The phenomenon has raised public consciousness about ergonomics and the study of how humans interact with their physical environment. This article includes an annotated bibliography of books, book chapters, magazines, journal articles, and Internet resources from 1990 to the present dealing primarily with library ergonomic issues and concerns. The publication is suitable for researchers, administrators, librarians, library staffs, subject specialists, ergonomic consultants, physical therapists, or anyone interested in the topic to identify and locate useful information resources on library ergonomics.
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Marilyn P. Rowan and Phillip C. Wright
Ergonomics refers to the complex relationship between workers and theirwork that permeates every aspect of the workplace. Originally definedin 1717 by Bernadino Ramazinni, an…
Abstract
Ergonomics refers to the complex relationship between workers and their work that permeates every aspect of the workplace. Originally defined in 1717 by Bernadino Ramazinni, an Italian physician credited as the founder of occupational medicine, it is only recently that ergonomics has attracted widespread attention. This article will illustrate that the increasing interest in ergonomics is warranted and that appropriate ergonomic management is a process that will have a significant, positive effect on a company′s profits through cost reduction, quality improvement, performance improvement and productivity enhancement. Derived from the Greek words ergo and nomos meaning “work” and “natural laws”, ergonomics literally means the laws of work.
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