The 12th Annual National Ergonomics Conference and Exposition (NECE), billed “The Productivity Show,” is expected to be another record-breaker. The organizers, Continental Exhibitions, Inc., say it will eclipse the 11th NECE in the number of participants, sessions and exhibitors. It’s promoted as the most important event of the year for professionals looking to improve productivity, reduce workplace injuries and grow the bottom line.
NECE-2006, at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas from November 28 to December 1, offers ergonomics education for the full spectrum of workplaces: manufacturing, offices, warehousing facilities, call centers, healthcare and lab environments, assembly, construction, 24/7 operations and virtual workplaces.
Arranged in tracks, the sessions will include Software & Technology (new to the roster this year), Office & Call Center Ergonomics, Industrial Ergonomics & Material Handling and Special Topics, such as the Aging Workforce, Program Management & ROI. Last year’s debut track of Healthcare & Lab Ergonomics is back by popular demand, and Plant Safety & Ergonomics and Design & Ergonomics will be new daily tracks.
The organizers foresee standing room only for the keynote speakers. Tom Leamon, Director Emeritus, Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, will deliver the 2nd Annual State of the Industry Address on November 29. Deborah Russell, Director of Workforce Issues, AARP, plans to talk about accommodating the aging workforce on November 30. Bill Moggridge, Cofounder, IDEO, will tackle integrating ergonomics for design innovation on December 1. The topics and issues range from using virtual reality for process and product analysis to how a multi-plant ergonomics program saved one organization $5 million.
A half-day workshop by Peter Budnick, Ph.D., CPE, also addresses the economic benefits of ergonomic services and solutions. Dr. Budnick, the principal of Ergoweb Inc., explains that managers, lacking economic evidence to support investments, often see ergonomic interventions as an unreasonable expense. The workshop, called “Selling Ergonomics to Decision Makers,” shows participants ways to set the record straight. It will help them recognize, communicate and quantify ergonomic gains in terms that make “selling” ergonomics services and solutions a snap. They will learn what influences decision makers, how to promote ergonomics in terms they understand and how to recast ergonomics as an asset that produces significant returns.
His half-day workshop at NECE is an abbreviated version of the full-day session he will teach in San Francisco on September 13. The full day on the topic will be invaluable for professionals whose success rests on their communications skills with decision makers. Details of the San Francisco session can be found at https://ergoweb.com/training/ROIergo.cfm
Exhibitors are planning the highest number of new product debuts in the Expo’s history, making the 5th Annual Attendees’ Choice Awards Program highly competitive. They include 3M, AliMed, Ansell Healthcare, Dane Technologies, Ergomat, Herman Miller, Ironclad Performance Wear, Kinesis, Liko Patient Lifts, Plantronics, Power Pusher by Nu*Star, and Steelcase. The organizers say there are still some spaces available for exhibitors.
The conference also offers educational opportunities. Attendees who hold certification with the ABIH and BCSP will qualify for certification maintenance. BCPE testing will take place on November 27, which will allow testing participants to attend the full NECE program.
Discounted registration for early birds is available at the conference website — http://www.ergoexpo.com/ — which is also the place to find the full conference program, with biographies of the speakers.
Source: NECE, Ergoweb Inc.