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Ergonomic intervention on a packing workstation with robotic aid -case study at a furniture manufacturing industry.
Work. 2020; 66(1):229-237.WORK

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Several risk factors among packing lines workers can lead to Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSD) occurrence. Foreseeing WRMSD prevention and productivity increase, some furniture manufacturing industries have been investing in the adoption of robotic solutions. In this field, ergonomics plays an important role to verify if automation implementation has been successful.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to address the general impact and effectiveness from an ergonomics point of view of the implementation of a robotic aid in a packing workstation.

METHODS

The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was applied to 14 workers of semi-automated packing lines. Some additional questions about occupational conditions were included. In order to assess the ergonomic impact of the robotic aid, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) was also applied by trained ergonomists, by analyzing the considered packing workstations before and after the adoption of the robotic aid proposed solution.

RESULTS

The results showed that trunk torsion was the most highlighted WRMSD risk factor by all workers, associating it with the lumbar pain. The obtained RULA scores demonstrated that the adoption of a robotic aid eliminated this risk factor and, consequently, reduced the corresponding WRMSD risk.

CONCLUSIONS

The adoption of robotic aids can be instrumental in reducing WRMSD risk in furniture manufacturing industries. Ergonomic studies with workers' participatory approaches seem to be an appropriate strategy to enable the validation and development of industrial robotic solutions.

Links

Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Colim A
ALGORITMI Research Centre, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal.
Sousa N
Master in Human Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal.
Carneiro P
ALGORITMI Research Centre, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal.
Costa N
ALGORITMI Research Centre, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal.
Arezes P
ALGORITMI Research Centre, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal.
Cardoso A
Master in Human Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal.

MeSH

AdultBack PainErgonomicsFemaleHumansInterior Design and FurnishingsManufacturing IndustryMiddle AgedMusculoskeletal DiseasesOccupational DiseasesRoboticsSurveys and Questionnaires

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

32417807

Citation

Colim, Ana, et al. "Ergonomic Intervention On a Packing Workstation With Robotic Aid -case Study at a Furniture Manufacturing Industry." Work (Reading, Mass.), vol. 66, no. 1, 2020, pp. 229-237.
Colim A, Sousa N, Carneiro P, et al. Ergonomic intervention on a packing workstation with robotic aid -case study at a furniture manufacturing industry. Work. 2020;66(1):229-237.
Colim, A., Sousa, N., Carneiro, P., Costa, N., Arezes, P., & Cardoso, A. (2020). Ergonomic intervention on a packing workstation with robotic aid -case study at a furniture manufacturing industry. Work (Reading, Mass.), 66(1), 229-237. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-203144
Colim A, et al. Ergonomic Intervention On a Packing Workstation With Robotic Aid -case Study at a Furniture Manufacturing Industry. Work. 2020;66(1):229-237. PubMed PMID: 32417807.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Ergonomic intervention on a packing workstation with robotic aid -case study at a furniture manufacturing industry. AU - Colim,Ana, AU - Sousa,Nuno, AU - Carneiro,Paula, AU - Costa,Nélson, AU - Arezes,Pedro, AU - Cardoso,André, PY - 2020/5/18/pubmed PY - 2021/1/23/medline PY - 2020/5/18/entrez KW - Ergonomics KW - NMQ KW - RULA KW - WRMSD KW - manufacturing industry KW - packing workstation KW - robotic aid KW - workers’ perceptions SP - 229 EP - 237 JF - Work (Reading, Mass.) JO - Work VL - 66 IS - 1 N2 - BACKGROUND: Several risk factors among packing lines workers can lead to Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSD) occurrence. Foreseeing WRMSD prevention and productivity increase, some furniture manufacturing industries have been investing in the adoption of robotic solutions. In this field, ergonomics plays an important role to verify if automation implementation has been successful. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to address the general impact and effectiveness from an ergonomics point of view of the implementation of a robotic aid in a packing workstation. METHODS: The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was applied to 14 workers of semi-automated packing lines. Some additional questions about occupational conditions were included. In order to assess the ergonomic impact of the robotic aid, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) was also applied by trained ergonomists, by analyzing the considered packing workstations before and after the adoption of the robotic aid proposed solution. RESULTS: The results showed that trunk torsion was the most highlighted WRMSD risk factor by all workers, associating it with the lumbar pain. The obtained RULA scores demonstrated that the adoption of a robotic aid eliminated this risk factor and, consequently, reduced the corresponding WRMSD risk. CONCLUSIONS: The adoption of robotic aids can be instrumental in reducing WRMSD risk in furniture manufacturing industries. Ergonomic studies with workers' participatory approaches seem to be an appropriate strategy to enable the validation and development of industrial robotic solutions. SN - 1875-9270 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/32417807/Ergonomic_intervention_on_a_packing_workstation_with_robotic_aid__case_study_at_a_furniture_manufacturing_industry_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -