A System-of-Systems Framework for Improved Human, Ecologic and Economic Well-Being

One of the most actual and consistent drivers for the industry is sustainability, which includes three main pillars: environment, economics, and society. While numerous methods for environmental and economic sustainability assessment have been proposed, social sustainability assessment is still lacking in structured methods and tools, although human has always played a key role. Moreover, technological development is pushing the industrial world toward a new paradigm, the “Industry 4.0,” which embeds topics such as data digitalization, cyber-physical systems, and machine learning. It entails significant changes in human resources management, without reducing their importance. Humans were part of the manufacturing system from the first industrial revolution, and no automation or digitalization can be possible without humans. The industry can no longer underestimate the reasonable application of human factors and ergonomics principles to the workplace. For this purpose, the paper provides a novel transdisciplinary engineering method to measure and promote social sustainability on production sites. It exploits Internet of Things technology to support the (re)design of manufacturing processes and plants toward human-centered connected factories. To improve the workers’ well-being has positive effects on their health, satisfaction, and performance. The method has been implemented in a real industrial case study within the footwear industry. The sole finishing process has been analyzed from different perspectives to solve ergonomics-related problems and implement effective improvement strategies.

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Effectiveness of the Developed Hot-work Chair Prototype for Hot-work Workers: A Preliminary Study in the View of Ergonomics

Sanmugum,

Karuppiah,

Samasivam

et al. 2024

MJMHS

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Introduction: Workers in a selected company currently performing hot work using inade-quate seating tools experience prolonged static and awkward body postures, leading to mus-cle discomfort and pain, especially in the buttocks, lower back, thighs, and other areas. This research aims to assess and compare the level of muscle discomfort between the control group, which continued their existing practices, and the experimental group, which used the newly developed hot work chair. Methods: The effectiveness of the hot work chair was evaluated using pre-test and post-test questionnaires, including a body discomfort chart assessed with a 100-millimeter Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). A total of 24 respondents were divided into two groups, with 12 respondents in each (control and experimental groups). The experimental group used the hot work chair, while the control group maintained their usual seating practices. Pre-tests and post-tests were conducted to assess muscle discomfort ratings before and after using the hot work chair. Results: Data analysis using the Wilcoxon Signed-rank test revealed a significant difference in the overall discomfort rating for the ex-perimental group between pre-test and post-test (Z = -3.062, p = 0.002). Conversely, there were no significant differences for the control group workers between pre-test and post-test for the specified body regions. Notably, the highest discomfort ratings, such as buttocks, were reduced from 77.50 ± 4.78mm to 37.00 ± 4.13mm during the post-test. The experimental group showed an overall discomfort rating reduction of 49% after using the hot work chair. The chair’s seat, backrest, and knee support feature contoured cushions that adapt to various body postures, allowing multiple seating positions for users based on their requirements and working environment. Conclusion: The introduction of the hot work chair effectively re-duced muscle discomfort during extended hot work activities and improved body postures, thereby potentially reducing the risk of muscle discomfort leading to musculoskeletal disor-ders and other work-related injuries.

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A System-of-Systems Framework for Improved Human, Ecologic and Economic Well-Being

Cited by 3 publications

References 41 publications

Multiperspective Ergonomic Assessment Approach for Human Centered Workplace Design

Multiperspective Ergonomic Assessment Approach for Human Centered Workplace Design

A method to improve workers’ well-being toward human-centered connected factories

Effectiveness of the Developed Hot-work Chair Prototype for Hot-work Workers: A Preliminary Study in the View of Ergonomics

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