Methodology to simultaneously address organizational needs with respect to quality, ergonomics and safety

In recent years, companies wishing to be successful have to understand and approach quality improvement in a more comprehensive ways. This approach implies improving every activity within organization in order to satisfy all customers (both internal and external). These activities involve relating the dimensions of quality, ergonomics and safety (occupational, health and environmental). In this study, a methodology is proposed for the integration of quality, ergonomics and safety management systems in manufacturing. These management systems aims at process reengineering, effective product design, employee involvement, safety, teamwork, training in statistical techniques and customer focus. In combination, they synthesis all activities that are concern with improvement of products, services, quality of work, design, manufacturing and decision making.; These systems especially Quality Management System (QMS) has become very popular means for achieving higher levels of quality and productivity in many organizations today. However, it can be argued that many aspects of ergonomics and safety issues have been neglected in the development and implementation of most Quality Management (QM) programs. Thus to succeed effectively in all improvement efforts, ergonomics and safety should be integrated into the QM system since studies have also shown strong relationship between quality, ergonomic and safety (natural environmental and occupational and health).; The objectives of this dissertation project were: (1) to identify most important organizational requirements (management activities and the factors that contributes to successful outcomes) for simultaneous improvements in the area of quality, safety and ergonomics and (2) to integrate the identified factors with quality, safety and ergonomics management systems.; A questionnaire survey was used to meet the first objective. The purpose of the survey was to collect data from manufacturing industries on factors that measure the management activities. Application of Analytical Hierarchy Process and Quality Function Deployment were used to meet the second objective.; The overall survey response of was 46.8% and this was acceptable since there was no follow up. The reliability coefficients ranged from 0.73 to 0.85 indicating that some scales or management activity area more reliable in measuring productivity improvement in terms of quality, ergonomics, safety and efficiency. Typically, reliability coefficients of 0.7 or more are considered adequate. The construct validity of each management activity area was evaluated by analyzing the measurement items using Principal Component Analysis. The result identifies 17 management activity areas that can be measured by the questionnaire.; The application of Analytical Hierarchy Process and Quality Function Deployment identifies issues that form the core of any continuous improvement activities that is aimed at satisfying the requirements of all the stakeholders regarding quality, ergonomics and safety simultaneously.; The purpose of the study is to lay the foundation for more rigorous scientific procedures that will be used to develop software for the integration of quality, safety and ergonomic management systems to minimize system procedures by utilizing a multifunctional team for quality, safety and ergonomic improvement activities simultaneously. The aim is to attach equal value to the problems of product quality, natural environmental protection, occupational safety and work hygiene in order to improve productivity by simultaneously improving all quality, ergonomic and safety in all manufacturing activities.