IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i9p3606-d352038.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Design of Human-Centered Collaborative Assembly Workstations for the Improvement of Operators’ Physical Ergonomics and Production Efficiency: A Case Study

Author

Listed:
  • Luca Gualtieri

    (Industrial Engineering and Automation (IEA), Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Ilaria Palomba

    (Industrial Engineering and Automation (IEA), Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Fabio Antonio Merati

    (Industrial Engineering and Automation (IEA), Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Erwin Rauch

    (Industrial Engineering and Automation (IEA), Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Renato Vidoni

    (Industrial Engineering and Automation (IEA), Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

Abstract

Industrial collaborative robotics is one of the main enabling technologies of Industry 4.0. Collaborative robots are innovative cyber-physical systems, which allow safe and efficient physical interactions with operators by combining typical machine strengths with inimitable human skills. One of the main uses of collaborative robots will be the support of humans in the most physically stressful activities through a reduction of work-related biomechanical overload, especially in manual assembly activities. The improvement of operators’ occupational work conditions and the development of human-centered and ergonomic production systems is one of the key points of the ongoing fourth industrial revolution. The factory of the future should focus on the implementation of adaptable, reconfigurable, and sustainable production systems, which consider the human as their core and valuable part. Strengthening actual assembly workstations by integrating smart automation solutions for the enhancement of operators’ occupational health and safety will be one of the main goals of the near future. In this paper, the transformation of a manual workstation for wire harness assembly into a collaborative and human-centered one is presented. The purpose of the work is to present a case study research for the design of a collaborative workstation to improve the operators’ physical ergonomics while keeping or increasing the level of productivity. Results demonstrate that the achieved solution provides valuable benefits for the operators’ working conditions as well as for the production performance of the companies. In particular, the biomechanical overload of the worker has been reduced by 12.0% for the right part and by 28% for the left part in terms of manual handling, and by 50% for the left part and by 57% for the right part in terms of working postures. In addition, a reduction of the cycle time of 12.3% has been achieved.

Suggested Citation

  • Luca Gualtieri & Ilaria Palomba & Fabio Antonio Merati & Erwin Rauch & Renato Vidoni, 2020. "Design of Human-Centered Collaborative Assembly Workstations for the Improvement of Operators’ Physical Ergonomics and Production Efficiency: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-23, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:9:p:3606-:d:352038
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/9/3606/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/9/3606/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Karl Widerquist, 2018. "The Bottom Line," Exploring the Basic Income Guarantee, in: A Critical Analysis of Basic Income Experiments for Researchers, Policymakers, and Citizens, chapter 0, pages 93-98, Palgrave Macmillan.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Agnieszka A. Tubis & Katarzyna Grzybowska, 2022. "In Search of Industry 4.0 and Logistics 4.0 in Small-Medium Enterprises—A State of the Art Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-26, November.
    2. Davide Gattamelata & Mario Fargnoli, 2022. "Development of a New Procedure for Evaluating Working Postures: An Application in a Manufacturing Company," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-20, November.
    3. Fei Chao & Gan Lin & Ling Zheng & Xiang Chang & Chih-Min Lin & Longzhi Yang & Changjing Shang, 2020. "An LSTM Based Generative Adversarial Architecture for Robotic Calligraphy Learning System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-11, October.
    4. Emilio Rossi & Erminia Attaianese, 2023. "Research Synergies between Sustainability and Human-Centered Design: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-19, August.
    5. Ci-Jyun Liang & Marvin H. Cheng, 2023. "Trends in Robotics Research in Occupational Safety and Health: A Scientometric Analysis and Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-21, May.
    6. Ana Colim & Rita Morgado & Paula Carneiro & Nélson Costa & Carlos Faria & Nuno Sousa & Luís A. Rocha & Pedro Arezes, 2021. "Lean Manufacturing and Ergonomics Integration: Defining Productivity and Wellbeing Indicators in a Human–Robot Workstation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, February.
    7. Dominic Loske & Matthias Klumpp & Maria Keil & Thomas Neukirchen, 2021. "Logistics Work, Ergonomics and Social Sustainability: Empirical Musculoskeletal System Strain Assessment in Retail Intralogistics," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-25, December.
    8. Hien Nguyen Ngoc & Ganix Lasa & Ion Iriarte, 2022. "Human-centred design in industry 4.0: case study review and opportunities for future research," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 33(1), pages 35-76, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nurlan Orazalin & Mady Baydauletov, 2020. "Corporate social responsibility strategy and corporate environmental and social performance: The moderating role of board gender diversity," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(4), pages 1664-1676, July.
    2. Maria Björklund & Helena Forslund, 2019. "Challenges Addressed by Swedish Third-Party Logistics Providers Conducting Sustainable Logistics Business Cases," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Olawale Fatoki, 2019. "Sustainability orientation and sustainable entrepreneurial intentions of university students in South Africa," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 7(2), pages 990-999, December.
    4. Oliver Wagner & Thomas Adisorn & Lena Tholen & Dagmar Kiyar, 2020. "Surviving the Energy Transition: Development of a Proposal for Evaluating Sustainable Business Models for Incumbents in Germany’s Electricity Market," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, February.
    5. K. Thomas Liaw, 2020. "Survey of Green Bond Pricing and Investment Performance," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-12, August.
    6. Ali Uyar & Cemil Kuzey & Merve Kilic & Abdullah S. Karaman, 2021. "Board structure, financial performance, corporate social responsibility performance, CSR committee, and CEO duality: Disentangling the connection in healthcare," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(6), pages 1730-1748, November.
    7. Charles H. Cho & Kathrin Bohr & Tony Jaehyun Choi & Katharine Partridge & Jhankrut Mukesh Shah & Ada Swierszcz, 2020. "Advancing Sustainability Reporting in Canada: 2019 Report on Progress," Accounting Perspectives, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(3), pages 181-204, September.
    8. Tang, Pok Man & Yam, Kai Chi & Koopman, Joel, 2020. "Feeling proud but guilty? Unpacking the paradoxical nature of unethical pro-organizational behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 68-86.
    9. Kumar, Patanjal & Baraiya, Rajendra & Das, Debashree & Jakhar, Suresh Kumar & Xu, Lei & Mangla, Sachin Kumar, 2021. "Social responsibility and cost-learning in dyadic supply chain coordination," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    10. Nurmi, Niina & Koroma, Johanna, 2020. "The emotional benefits and performance costs of building a psychologically safe language climate in MNCs," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(4).
    11. Sarker, Moniruzzaman & Mohd-Any, Amrul Asraf & Kamarulzaman, Yusniza, 2021. "Validating a consumer-based service brand equity (CBSBE) model in the airline industry," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    12. María Luisa Pajuelo Moreno & Teresa Duarte-Atoche, 2019. "Relationship between Sustainable Disclosure and Performance—An Extension of Ullmann’s Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-33, August.
    13. Broner, Fernando & Martin, Alberto & Pandolfi, Lorenzo & Williams, Tomas, 2021. "Winners and losers from sovereign debt inflows," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    14. Melinda Cahyaning Ratri & Iman Harymawan & Khairul Anuar Kamarudin, 2021. "Busyness, Tenure, Meeting Frequency of the CEOs, and Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-22, May.
    15. Morteza Ghobakhloo & Mohammad Iranmanesh & Andrius Grybauskas & Mantas Vilkas & Monika Petraitė, 2021. "Industry 4.0, innovation, and sustainable development: A systematic review and a roadmap to sustainable innovation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(8), pages 4237-4257, December.
    16. Nham Tuan Phong & Nguyen Tuyet-Mai & Tran Nam Hoai & Nguyen Hao Anh, 2020. "Knowledge sharing and innovation capability at both individual and organizational levels: An empirical study from Vietnam’s telecommunication companies," Management & Marketing, Sciendo, vol. 15(2), pages 275-301, June.
    17. Sunday C. Eze & Vera C. A. Chinedu-Eze & Hart O. Awa, 2021. "Key Success Factors (KSFs) Underlying the Adoption of Social Media Marketing Technology," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(2), pages 21582440211, April.
    18. Luqing Rong & Maozeng Xu, 2022. "Impact of Altruistic Preference and Government Subsidy on the Multinational Green Supply Chain under Dynamic Tariff," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 1928-1958, February.
    19. Isabel‐Maria García‐Sánchez & Nazim Hussain & Sana Akbar Khan & Jennifer Martínez‐Ferrero, 2020. "Managerial entrenchment, corporate social responsibility, and earnings management," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(4), pages 1818-1833, July.
    20. Xiangyu Chang & Yinghui Huang & Mei Li & Xin Bo & Subodha Kumar, 2021. "Efficient Detection of Environmental Violators: A Big Data Approach," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(5), pages 1246-1270, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:9:p:3606-:d:352038. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.