ABSTRACT
This paper serves to show that high-tech ergonomic solutions can be low-cost and very effective as interventions to improve workplace ergonomics. This is illustrated by examining actual ergonomic interventions at three industrial companies in North Carolina. First, a small-sized (44 employees) printing company is examined to show lowcost usage of voice input/output technologies to reduce intensive hand keying typically associated with inputting news articles for publishing. Second, a medium-sized (350 workers) manufacturer of metal products is analyzed to show effective ergonomic solutions via high-tech materials (powder coatings) and high-tech equipment (robotic welding and automated spray painting) that eliminated ergonomic hazards while achieving production leaps by doubling output with a one-year payback. Third, a largesized (2700 workers) poultry processing facility is examined to show that selective automation of ergonomically stressful tasks allowed the company to alleviate ergonomic stressors while saving $2 for every dollar invested. Thus, these case studies serve to illustrate that technology-based solutions can be highly effective for alleviating or eliminating ergonomic hazards, but such solutions can also still be low-cost. Additionally, it shows that ergonomists should not be content to stop with solutions that produce limited results. If only low-tech solutions are used, ergonomic improvements should be expected to stagnate eventually and reach a plateau. To improve beyond such a plateau, other approaches will become necessary. Therefore, as technological advances continue to occur and inevitably make new technologies easier to use, ergonomists should consider using high-tech but low-cost ergonomic solutions.
