Lean ergonomcs: Rules and stratgies for ergonomics implementation”

Several years ago the author wrote an article containing 12 rules for lean ergonomics. In the implementation of lean manufacturing the engineer must consider using people to a greater extent than people are used in conventional automated systems.  The increased emphasis on human skills in lean manufacturing is primarily due to human adaptability.                            

This presentation provides twenty rules to help reduce four key ergonomic risk factors (force, frequency, posture and mechanical stress).  It also provides the basic strategy for implementing theses rules in a multinational company.  These rules were developed to assist individuals who may not have received extensive ergonomic training but who are involved in implementing any changes (major or minor) to manufacturing work stations.  This includes changes in task and/or changes in equipment.  A complete ergonomic analysis of a work situation is a good idea in most cases, but these rules will avoid many of the commonly occurring problems if applied early in the design or modification of a workplace.