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A genetic algorithm for the design of job rotation schedules considering ergonomic and competence criteria

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Abstract

Job rotation is an organizational strategy increasingly used in manufacturing systems as it provides benefits to both workers and management in an organization. Job rotation prevents musculoskeletal disorders, eliminates boredom and increases job satisfaction and morale. As a result, the company gains a skilled and motivated workforce, which leads to increases in productivity, employee loyalty and decreases in employee turnover. A multi-criteria genetic algorithm is employed to generate job rotation schedules, with considering the most adequate employee-job assignments to prevent musculoskeletal disorders caused by accumulation of fatigue. The algorithm provides the best adequacy available between workers and the competences needed for performing the tasks. The design of the rotation schedules is based not only on ergonomic criteria but also on issues related to product quality and employee satisfaction. The model includes the workers’ competences as a measure for the goodness of solutions.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia for its support of this research through its Research and Development Program 2009 and financing through the project PAID-06-09/2902. The Universidad Politécnica de Valencia has funded the translation of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Proyectos de Ingeniería, Universitat Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain

    S. Asensio-Cuesta & J. A. Diego-Mas

  2. Departamento de Organización de Empresas, Universitat Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain

    L. Canós-Darós & C. Andrés-Romano

Authors
  1. S. Asensio-Cuesta
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  2. J. A. Diego-Mas
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  3. L. Canós-Darós
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  4. C. Andrés-Romano
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Correspondence to J. A. Diego-Mas.

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Asensio-Cuesta, S., Diego-Mas, J.A., Canós-Darós, L. et al. A genetic algorithm for the design of job rotation schedules considering ergonomic and competence criteria. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 60, 1161–1174 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-011-3672-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-011-3672-0

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