Knowledge-based ergonomics paradigm: A work process requirement analyzer

A thorough knowledge about work processes will help maintain a delicate balance between work process requirements and employee abilities, which in turn will increase the morale and satisfaction of employees and improve the productivity and product quality. The main objective of this study is to develop an evaluation tool for work process requirements.; A critical literature review indicates that previous approaches are limited in scope with respect to ergonomic considerations and practicality. A pilot study was conducted to develop an ergonomic evaluation tool based upon the criteria of scope, simplicity, practicality, usefulness, reliability, and job-specificity. A concept of Relative Safety Index (RSI) was formulated which took into account multiple parameters such as frequency, duration, repetition, weight, force, travel distance, and horizontal distance. This tool was later tested in a nuclear remediation industry. The results demonstrated that this tool was practical, easy to use, and informative. However, this tool has some obvious limitations: lack of underlying theory, un-validated assumptions, and possible bias in data collection.; The weakness of the pilot study and previous approaches lead to the exploration of a new work process requirement analyzer. The development of the tool follows the following procedures: (1) proposing a conceptual framework of a Human-at-Work System; (2) identifying physical and mental activities as well as conditions that influence the activities; (3) classifying factors; (4) designing a questionnaire; (5) forming factor levels; and (6) recommendations for future research.; Future validation is needed to: (1) examining the match between subjective inputs and objective values; and (2) investigating the sensitivity, specificity, reliability, and stability of the work process requirement analyzer.