ABSTRACT
Many ergonomics programs are not successful. A survey performed by Auburn Engineers (Auburn, Alabama) found that only 25% of the ergonomics programs they surveyed were successful. The data, shown in Figure 10.1, separate the organizations into small, medium, and large sizes. Four different outcomes are possible:
• Successful
• Too new to call
• Floundering due to management issues
• Floundering due to technical issues
The term floundering was chosen to indicate that more effort is going into the ergonomics program than is appropriate for the results being achieved. While this is not technically a failure, it is clearly headed in that direction. Floundering due to management issues was the result of lack of vision or program direction, inadequate resources, lack of coordination, and other management issues. Floundering due to technical issues included programs where there was a fundamental lack of technical skills such as job analysis or ability to generate appropriate solutions.
