Sequencing labor-intensive production by ergonomic assessment for reduction of work-related musculoskeletal disorders

For labor-intensive environments, feasibility of the production schedule is determined in part by the physical human capacity to complete jobs assigned in the sequence. While the physical effect of the production schedule might be perceptible, it is likely not a decision factor when allocating jobs to the sequence. In the most basic sense, this is an inefficient use of finite human capacity but more severely, the physical factors associated with job processing requirements may be contributing to the development of a work-related musculoskeletal disorder. Identification of musculoskeletal risks is well demonstrated by ergonomic assessment but the challenge of intervention and absent in existing methods is cohesion between the demands of production and preservation of humans in the relative short-term. This thesis will therefore define novel job dispatching rules considerate of cumulative effects and musculoskeletal risk for job processing requirements based on the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). In this way, the sequence of jobs may function as an ergonomic administrative control that exposes the human processor to the minimal necessary physical burden or risk associated with the production schedule.