A comparative analysis of participatory ergonomics programs in U.S. and Japan manufacturing plants
dc.contributor.author | Liker, Jeffrey K. | en_US |
dc.contributor.author | Nagamachi, Mitsuo | en_US |
dc.contributor.author | Lifshitz, Yair R. | en_US |
dc.date.accessioned | 2006-04-07T20:50:57Z | |
dc.date.available | 2006-04-07T20:50:57Z | |
dc.date.issued | 1989-04 | en_US |
dc.identifier.citation | Liker, Jeffrey K., Nagamachi, Mitsuo, Lifshitz, Yair R. (1989/04)."A comparative analysis of participatory ergonomics programs in U.S. and Japan manufacturing plants." International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 3(3): 185-199. <http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/27983> | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V31-482B0MS-38/2/9c55dd3c39ec5284cf4a802819987349 | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/27983 | |
dc.description.abstract | The use of a participative approach to ergonomics is growing in countries throughout the world. This paper compares and contrasts Participatory Ergonomics programs in two U.S. and two Japanese manufacturing plants. All four programs focused on the redesign of repetitive manufacturing jobs to reduce physical stress on workers. In all four cases, this traditional ergonomics concern was addressed in a non-traditional way-involving broad participation of many manufacturing functions who worked together as an ergonomics team and direct input from operators whose jobs were redesigned.The participatory ergonomics programs were successful in making significant numbers of job changes in both countries. A comparison of the ergonomics programs across countries revealed some significant differences in structure and process. An overarching difference was in how participation was managed. In the Japan cases, participation was a carefully controlled process by which upper management and staff specialists worked through first-line supervisors to get input from workers meeting in quality (or safety) circles. In the U.S., multi-functional and multi-level task forces (including union and worker representatives) were formed and operators were invited to meetings to give input. The U.S. plants gave the task force a great deal of autonomy and virtually all decisions were group decisions. The differences suggest that effective participatory ergonomics programs can take many forms. The best program for any particular plants in differing countries depends on their own unique history, structure, and culture. | en_US |
dc.format.extent | 1160051 bytes | |
dc.format.extent | 3118 bytes | |
dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | |
dc.format.mimetype | text/plain | |
dc.language.iso | en_US | |
dc.publisher | Elsevier | en_US |
dc.title | A comparative analysis of participatory ergonomics programs in U.S. and Japan manufacturing plants | en_US |
dc.type | Article | en_US |
dc.rights.robots | IndexNoFollow | en_US |
dc.subject.hlbsecondlevel | Mechanical Engineering | en_US |
dc.subject.hlbsecondlevel | Industrial and Operations Engineering | en_US |
dc.subject.hlbtoplevel | Engineering | en_US |
dc.description.peerreviewed | Peer Reviewed | en_US |
dc.contributor.affiliationum | University of Michigan, Center for Ergonomics, Industrial and Operations Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, U.S.A. | en_US |
dc.contributor.affiliationum | University of Michigan, Center for Ergonomics, Industrial and Operations Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, U.S.A. | en_US |
dc.contributor.affiliationother | Hiroshima University, Dept. of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Shitami Saijo-cho, Higashi Hiroshima-City 724, Japan | en_US |
dc.description.bitstreamurl | http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/27983/1/0000416.pdf | en_US |
dc.identifier.doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0169-8141(89)90018-8 | en_US |
dc.identifier.source | International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics | en_US |
dc.owningcollname | Interdisciplinary and Peer-Reviewed |
Files in this item
Remediation of Harmful Language
The University of Michigan Library aims to describe library materials in a way that respects the people and communities who create, use, and are represented in our collections. Report harmful or offensive language in catalog records, finding aids, or elsewhere in our collections anonymously through our metadata feedback form. More information at Remediation of Harmful Language.
Accessibility
If you are unable to use this file in its current format, please select the Contact Us link and we can modify it to make it more accessible to you.