Abstract
This paper discusses a case from an automotive industry plant where ergonomic problems were identified corresponding to inadequate postures resulting from operations performed above the workers’ head height. Company’s economic situation didn’t allowed to consider the automation of the operation despite the recognized need to reduce or, ideally, to eliminate the risk to operators. In this context the use of the TRIZ methodology offers an opportunity to identify potential solutions. Therefore, the TRIZ’s Su-Field Analysis was used, with the support of an adapted Contradiction Matrix. This approach allowed obtaining a more structured solution, combining Ergonomics with Lean management principles. The outcome of implementing the proposed solution was the elimination of wastes and the improvement of workplaces’ ergonomic quality. Furthermore, the study provided some insights on ways of eliminating or reducing existing Occupational Safety issues in the near future.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Salvendy, G., Karwowski, W.: Ergonomics in Manufacturing: Raising Productivity through Workplace Improvement. Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Dearborn, Michigan (1998)
Freitas, D., Nunes, V., Nunes, I.L.: Integrating lean six sigma and ergonomics—a case study. In: Arezes P., et al. (eds.) Occupational Safety and Hygiene III, pp. 441–445. Taylor & Francis Group, London (2015) (ISBN 978-1-138-02765-7)
Nunes, I.L.: FAST ERGO_X—a tool for ergonomic auditing and work-related musculoskeletal disorders prevention. WORK J. Prev. Assess. Rehabil. 34(2), 133–148 (2009) (ISSN 1051-9815)
Nunes, I.L., Knowledge acquisition for the development of an upper-body work-related musculoskeletal disorders analysis tool. Hum. Factors Ergon. Manuf. Serv. Ind. 17(2), 149–162. (2007). doi:10.1002/hfm.20070 (ISSN 1520-6564)
McAtamney, L., Corlett, E.N.: RULA: a survey method for the investigation of work-related upper limb disorders. Appl. Ergon. 24, 91–99 (1993)
IEA—definition and domains of ergonomics. http://www.iea.cc/whats/index.html
ADP—Manufacturing Electrified Vehicles in Wolfsburg in Automotive Design and Production. http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/manufacturing-electrified-vehicles-in-wolfsburg
Mao, X., Zhang, X., Abourizk, S.: Solutions for Su-Field Analysis. TRIZ J. http://www.triz-journal.com/generalized-solutions-for-su-field-analysis/
Terninko, J., Zusman, A.: Systematic Innovation. An Introdution to TRIZ. St. Lucie Press, Boca Raton, Florida (1998)
HSE—Human factors: design. http://www.hse.gov.uk/humanfactors/topics/design.htm
HSE—Reducing the risk of upper limb disorders (ULDs) in the workplace. http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/uld/employers/howtoreducerisk.htm
Navas, H.V.G.: TRIZ: Design problem solving with systematic innovation. Adv. Ind. Design Eng. (2013). doi:10.5772/55979, http://www.intechopen.com/books/advances-in-industrial-design-engineering/triz-design-problem-solving-with-systematic-innovation (ISBN 978-953-51-1016-3, InTech)
Acknowledgments
The present authors would like to thank the Faculty of Science and Technology of The New University of Lisbon and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology through the Strategic Project no. PEst-OE/EME/UI0667/2011. Their support is helping to make possible our research work.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this paper
Cite this paper
Alves, J.F., Navas, H.V.G., Nunes, I.L. (2016). Application of TRIZ Methodology for Ergonomic Problem Solving in a Continuous Improvement Environment. In: Arezes, P. (eds) Advances in Safety Management and Human Factors. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 491. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41929-9_43
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41929-9_43
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-41928-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-41929-9
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)