While assembly work has always been physically demanding, little is known about the overall consequences of cognitive loading on assemblers' performance, well-being, and the speed and quality of production. Cognitive under- or overloading can cause a lack of focus or distraction on one hand, or overwhelm on the other.
Cummins Inc., founded in 1919, designs, manufactures, sells and services diesel engines and technology globally. Between its four business units, Cummins has 107 manufacturing plants, 600 company-owned and independent distribution facilities and over 5,000 dealer locations in more than 160 countries.
NEW YORK—Approximately 3.7 million workers are injured at work each year, costing businesses $170 billion annually. Injuries caused during material handling represent the majority of incidents, accounting for 32 percent of insurance claims.
Times were tough for the Timken Co. at the start of the 21st century. In March 2000, the Canton, OH-based manufacturer of antifriction roller bearings and related components announced plans to cut 600 jobs worldwide—after having trimmed 1,700 jobs in the previous two years. It also closed plants in Australia and England, and was relying more heavily on sources of steel outside the United States.
WASHINGTON—Workplace injuries and accidents that cause employees to miss six or more days of work cost U.S. employers nearly $62 billion in 2013, according to the 2016 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index.
ANN ARBOR, MI—The return-on-investment of a site ergonomics program can exceed three times the investment, according to a new study from consulting firm Humantech Inc.
ANN ARBOR, MI—Humantech is conducting a survey on the use of computer technology for managing ergonomics programs. This online, confidential survey consists of 16 questions and is open to any company with an established ergonomics program.
DEARBORN, MI—Engineers at Ford Motor Co. have created virtual representations of employees— called “avatars”—to assess whether articulating arms and other ergonomic aids could help with assembly.
SOLINGEN, German—Item Industrietechnik GmbH has become the first supplier of industrial workbenches to be awarded the “certified and recommended” seal of approval by the independent Campaign for Healthy Backs.
ANN ARBOR, MI—Humantech Inc. has added a new course, Managing an Ergonomics Process, to its seminar series in 2013. This one-day workshop will be held in Ann Arbor, MI, on April 25 and Sept. 19.
Attendees will develop the ability to recognize, plan, and integrate the strategic elements of ergonomics into their current business processes. This workshop is not an introductory course and is intended for those who have previously attended the Applied Industrial Ergonomics seminar.
This workshop takes you beyond identifying and assessing ergonomic risk, and leads you into “designing out” the risk to begin with. Through hands-on experiences and group activities, some of which may be held off-site, participants will learn how to evaluate existing equipment and propose methodologies for good ergonomic design. This workshop is for people who have previously participated in the Applied Industrial Ergonomics training course.
