Ergonomic intervention on a packing workstation with robotic aid –case study at a furniture manufacturing industry
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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 ap…
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Applying the RULA method combined with self-reported musculoskeletal symptomatology questionnaires contributes importantly to the risk assessment of musculoskeletal disorders in jobs with manufacturing and repetitive tasks.
“The application of the RULA method, combined with self-reported musculoskeletal symptomatology questionnaires, has also shown an important contribution to the risk assessment of musculoskeletal disorders in jobs with manufacturing and repetitive type tasks”
From Analysis of the Application of Ergonomics to Increase Productivity in Manufacturing Companies: A Systematic Review of the Literature (2023) · cites this paper as Colim et al., 2020
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(1992) · doi:10.1201/b12577 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
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Advanced Applications of Industrial Robotics: New Trends and Possibilities
Dzedzickis, A., Subačiūtė-Žemaitienė, J., Šutinys, E., Samukaitė-Bubnienė, U., & Bučinskas, V. (2021) · Applied Sciences · doi:10.3390/app12010135 · Cited by 228 · see citing works
Marchisio, R. A. O., & Collao-Díaz, M. F. (2023) · Proceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management · doi:10.46254/au02.20230240
- Authors
- Colim, A., Sousa, N., Carneiro, P., Costa, N., Arezes, P., & Cardoso, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Minho (PT)
- Venue
- Work
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2020-06-04
- Volume
- 66
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 229-237
- ISSN
- 1051-9815 (ISSN-L)
- 1875-9270
- OpenAlex
- W3024810185
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 6.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-nd
- Locations
- Work (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) (submittedVersion)
- Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Safety in Workplaces
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Safety Management
- Keywords
- work-related musculoskeletal disorders, robotic assistance, furniture industry, ergonomic interventions, trunk torsion, low back pain, Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, RULA, occupational risk factors, industrial automation
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Back Pain, Female, Humans, Ergonomics, Interior Design and Furnishings, Middle Aged, Musculoskeletal Diseases, Occupational Diseases, Surveys and Questionnaires, Robotics, Manufacturing Industry
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