December 20, 2013
Recent decades have witnessed the introduction of an impressive array of strategies to streamline and enhance production. Lean — Focus on adding value and eliminating waste […]
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December 20, 2013
Despite all the advancements in automation and high technology, humans still constitute a decisive factor in production. Whether planning new operations or improving existing ones, it […]
December 20, 2013
You must understand the basic principles of human-friendly design to evaluate or design workplace equipment. There are no shortcuts or simple tips that replace a firm […]
December 20, 2013
Common issues Manhandling A problem when storing spools occurs when cut lengths are to be delivered, as opposed to the whole spool. When a length is […]
December 20, 2013
Issues and Options Door Maintenance Truck/trailer doors Dock bay doors Evaluations in some distribution centers have revealed that the heaviest lifts were opening doors. The remedy […]
December 20, 2013
Background One of the most challenging issues in distribution centers is manually picking orders. The amount of lifting, bending, and reaching is obvious, but many of […]
December 20, 2013
Common issues Constant bending to check orders Lifting, walking, carrying to sort orders Checking incoming materials often is done on the floor, which then usually requires […]
December 20, 2013
Background Many of the tasks related to shipping and receiving are now performed with equipment such as forklift trucks and and involve little physical strain on […]
December 20, 2013
The system of distribution centers in North America is an unsung marvel of modern technology. When a customer orders a product, it is often removed from […]
September 6, 2013
Holding cover open with one arm, adjusting with other Principles affected Force Reach Motions Related pages Maintenance Access panels Tools Quick releases Background Machines often have […]
September 6, 2013
Background All of the techniques of parts handling in generic workstations can be applied in machine operations. Additionally, the following are several special issues that are common with […]
September 6, 2013
Palm buttons: Frequently heavy, awkward Finger sweeps: Easy, convenient Principles affected Posture Force Reach Height Motions Related pages How to design a workstation Machine Ops Miscellaneous […]
September 6, 2013
Parts hard to remove Gravity drops too low Principles affected Force Height Motions Related pages Machine Ops Loading Parts handling (special issues for machines) Workstations Parts […]
September 6, 2013
Reaching to load — sometimes with a heavy part Principles affected Posture Force Reach Height Motions Fatigue Clearance Related pages Workstations Parts handling Material handling All […]
September 6, 2013
Too high, but easy to fix Long reach and hard to fix Extremely awkward design Background Machinery has been the hallmark of progress in production, eliminating […]
September 6, 2013
Holding slippery items Background This is a catch-all category of special application tools. The intend for much of this list is to enable readers to see […]
September 6, 2013
Common issues Tasks that require using manual scoops can involve repetitive motions, sometimes with a relatively heavy load. Common options for improvement Metal with grip at […]
September 6, 2013
Common issues Squeeze force Some tasks require a heavy squeeze force to cut or to hold an item. If done frequently, it can add to the […]