Ergonomic demands in automotive component inspection tasks

Investigations revealed poor ergonomic design, unsatisfactory logistics and quality problems at assembly and inspection workplaces in a large corporation supplying fenders to the automotive industry. A 138-item job design checklist was used to assess 59 reference workplaces. The design profiles highlighted weak points, especially as regards anthropometry and movement sequences. Ergonomically optimized assembly and inspection workplaces compatible with production flow were designed and introduced. Productivity improvement groups were created and action was taken to encourage good ergonomic behavior. The job contents were enlarged.