ABSTRACT
The following two case studies describe design improvements that have reduced ergonomic stresses on employees in manufacturing environments. Case 1 involved a forceful pushing task commonly encountered by a technician in the saw shop of a machine shop. Case 2 dealt with frequent strenuous lifting, and precise manual manipulation above shoulder height of 35 pound canisters filled with glass optical elements. In both cases, a team-based approach was used to identify the problem, generate potential solutions, evaluate, test and implement the most desirable solution. In Case 1, the solution involved the use of in-house resources to create a “low cost” device for carrying out the forceful pushing. In Case 2, the solution involved the inhouse creation of a more elaborate and expensive device to eliminate manual overhead loading and unloading.
