| "Pioneers in ergonomics": this is how the first technicians and work experts must have felt more than 50 years ago, when they began to define the concepts of the man/machine ratio. Everything happened between the amazement and the sKepticism of those entrepreneurs who didn't want to make investments, or better afford costs to modify installations or production lines in favour of the operator. Still at present the applied ergonomics - concerning lighting, noise, temperature, humidity and all physical factors that can harm the working activity - is seen by many managers as a cost and not as an investment. Basing on our decennial experience, a correct evaluation of the risk, made still in the design of a new phase of work or of a whole new tightening line, prevents wrong expenses and, at the same time, can suggest new technical solutions improving production process. Even if it's utmost important to use ergonomics for restructuring the single workplace, it often turns out to be more advantageous to completely redesign a production line, rather than try to improving it with repeated small interventions, as suggested also by the theories of the total quality. We should not forget that the ergonomics regards the lay-out of an installation, the removal of materials (and therefore their handling), the study of the product and its correct assembly in the different working phases, the production timing, the number of operators needed. When setting up a new workplace, with a focus on worker's health and safety, the analyst tries to reduce as much as possible the frequency of actions, the use of strength by the worker (and so the loss of time), the inadequate postures resulting into the difficulty of reaching a component or a tightening point, obtaining in such a way - following a time&method frame of mind - automatically also a cycle which, for each action carried out, gives added value to the product turns out to have a high efficiency. With the same investments, two results are achieved: much safer production lines, plants and consequently companies, with an improved layout and adequate spaces; workplaces with smaller risk, but, at the same time, with smaller flows of materials and working methods with higher added value, rendering working and production costs more competitive.
Ing. Marco Placci
Electrolux Home Products Italy S.p.A.
|
