Development and Validation of an Ergonomic Job RotationSchedule at a Manufacturing Facility

摘要

Job rotation is defined as the interchange of workers and tasks at specified intervals of time. This project focused onrndeveloping a method to generate an ergonomically sound job rotation schedule, and validate the effectiveness of thernsame. The study involved evaluating all stations on an assembly line using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessmentrn(RULA) methodology. Based on the RULA scores the stations were grouped together using order rank and clusterrnanalysis techniques. A job rotation schedule was then generated. Validation of newly developed ergonomic jobrnrotation schedules (EJRS) involved the use of a self-assessment technique to evaluate perceived discomfort andrnexertion after each rotation. Results showed that the subjects in EJRS group reported significantly less perceivedrndiscomfort for the neck, shoulder, back, wrist, hand, as well as, less perceived exertion for the whole body.