Showing 13 results for Product
Hamid Salmani Nodooshan, Shaghayegh Koohi Booshehri, Alireza Choobineh, Hadi Daneshmandi, Abdolhalim Rajabi,
Volume 2, Issue 3 (12-2014)
Abstract
Introduction: In the orthotic
and prosthetic workshops, awkward postures, repetitive and continuously
movements etc. are the risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This
study was conducted with the objective of ergonomic assessment of working
conditions in these workshops.
Material and Methods: In this study
all employed personnel of linorthotic and prosthetic production centers in Shiraz
city participated (n=42).Data were collected using Nordic Musculoskeletal disorders
Questionnaire (NMQ) and Ergonomic Risk Factor checklist (ERF)for assessment of
working conditions .Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (Ver. 16).
Results: The means
(SD) of age and job tenure (years) in employees studied were 37.26 (10.21) and
12.8 (9.39), respectively .The most prevalent MSDs symptoms were reported in
lower back (42.9%), shoulder (40.5%) and knee (40.5%).Working condition
assessment by ERF check list revealed that the means core of upper and lower
region of body and also mean of total score were higher than acceptable limit
(more than 7)..
Conclusion: In working
conditions improvement, corrective measures and MSDs risk factors control in
studied workers should be noted to risk factors in low back, shoulder and knee.
The results of this study showed that ergonomic problems in orthotics and
prosthetics clinics was related to "custom shoe making",
"grinding and finishing", "filling plaster cast" and
"positive cast rectification" tasks and ergonomic interventions to
decrees and/or eliminate of awkward working posture needed corrections.
Naser Sadra Abarghouei,
Volume 3, Issue 2 (9-2015)
Abstract
Introduction:
Musculoskeletal disorders are major concerns of the modern world due to their
effect on the physical health and productivity of the workforce. More extensive
research is therefore required to identify and prevent these injuries and
control the risk factors causing their development.
Materials and Methods: The present
study uses a theoretical model of ergonomic interventions to examine and
improve ergonomic conditions in an automobile spare part manufacturing plant. A
total of 44 employees were selected through simple random sampling and
according to the Morgan table from the 50 personnel working at the plant. The
Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaire and the review of ergonomics tips
inventory were used to identify the ergonomic risk factors. Based on the
theoretical model used in the research, the ergonomic intervention was
performed in two stages.
Findings: In
the macro stage of the ergonomic intervention, 7 goals were set and 13
ergonomic recommendations were made in the form of several workshops and task
forces. In the micro stage of the ergonomic intervention, 20 ergonomic risk
factors were identified and 13 strategies and plans were suggested. With the
senior manager's approval, 11 strategies entered the implementation stage with
the aim of improving ergonomic conditions and increasing productivity at the
workplace.
Conclusion: The
main outcome of the comprehensive ergonomic interventions performed in the
present study was a modified organizational culture, entailing both direct and
indirect benefits, such as providing low-cost or no-cost solutions to the
problems, creating an active environment of continuous improvement, increasing
employees' motivation for participation and being innovative in solving the
problems, increasing the inclination among the employees to be an innovative
thinker, improving communication between the authorities and the personnel and
increasing the employees' general knowledge and capabilities.
Iman Dianat, Parvin Adeli, Amir Hossein Talebian,
Volume 4, Issue 2 (10-2016)
Abstract
Introduction: The importance of product design has been dramatically increased in recent years due to economic considerations as well as changes in user preferences, policy making and legal needs. In response to this, and as one of the most influential branches in the field of product design (in terms of the fit between product and user), ergonomics has also been developed proportionally. The aim of this study was to review the most important considerations and different traditional and new approaches in product design as well as challenges and limitations in this regard.
Methods: A review was made of the relevant electronic databases including Ergonomics Abstracts, PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar using the following keywords: product, design, ergonomic, design procedures and design approach. The search was limited to full text articles in the English language, published in peer reviewed journals between 1990 and 2015.
Results: Comparison of the traditional and new approaches in product design indicated that the new approaches helped designers to choose the best product model based on various aspects and a more detailed interaction between user and product. Ergonomic considerations in product design also include engineering and psychological aspects as well as taking into account abilities and limitations of both products and users, to find a good fit between user and product.
Conclusions: The findings suggest that the traditional approaches in product design alone may not anymore guarantee the success of a product in the market, particularly in universal scale and for a wide range of users. In other words, consideration of various technical (in terms of user-product interaction) and legal (environment, sustainability, cost benefit, etc.) aspects in new ergonomic approaches may be taken into account to improve the quality and success of the products in the global market. Ergonomists may encounter with some challenges to achieve this goal, but high-quality ergonomics services can be considered as an effective solution in this regard.
Bahram Ipaki,
Volume 6, Issue 3 (10-2018)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Parkinson’s is a progressive disease of the nervous system that by affecting the body movements, affects patients’ quality of life and makes daily tasks like eating, difficult and time consuming for them. The aim of this study was to improve the comfort situation of Parkinson patient when eating by identifying ergonomic problems, and designing product for this.
Methods: 12 Parkinson’s patients were chosen by simple random sampling method. Data was collected through a translated Interview of the Discomfort Questionnaire section of ErgoFellow Software and direct observation of patients while eating. After the final data analysis and extraction of design guidelines, design ideas were sketched and the final design was formed after AHP evaluation.
Results: Discomfort Questionnaire data (the average rate of 10.6out of 7 (1. 514)) showed that the non-ergonomic posture of hands, fingers, wrists, arms, elbows, neck, upper back (lumber), and shoulders, the discomfort rate while eating, is more intense, compared to other parts of the body . Observations have also shown that in order to near food to patient mouth, occur Non-ergonomic changes in the patient’s posture. Therefore, designing product should be done using anthropometric data.
Conclusion: The results showed that reduction of mouth-to-food distance would reduce discomfort and fatigue for the Parkinson’s patient. Therefore, using anthropometric data, a height-adjustable product was designed and developed that improves the position of the posture and reduces the patient’s discomfort situation during eating food.
Dr Kimia Mirkamali, Dr Arman Ahmadizad, Saeed Kazemzadeh, Maryam Varmaghani,
Volume 7, Issue 1 (5-2019)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The progress and rebound of organizations depends on their productivity. Many factors affect the organization’s productivity; identifying these factors the organization’s deterrence can be prevented. In this study, the relationship between job burnout and employee productivity has been investigated.
Methods: This research is applied and its statistical population is 1265 people in Shariati and Kharazi hospitals. 294 of these employees were selected by Convenience sampling method considering the Cochran formula. Data was collected using the Maslach Burnout Standard Questionnaire and Hersey and Goldsmith Human Resources productivity Standard Questionnaire. Pearson correlation test and SPSS18 was used to analyze the data.
Results: The results of data analysis showed that burnout, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment with -0.82, -0.86, -0.83 and -0.85 correlation values, respectively, have a reverse and meaningful relationship with employee productivity of Shariati and kharazmi Hospitals employees.
Conclusion: Since the results showed that burnout and its dimensions have a significant relationship with productivity of Shariati and Kharazmi Hospitals in Isfahan, it is necessary for organizations to apply measures to reduce the feeling of burnout in the staff. The results of this study are consistent with the results of other studies. At the end of the study, were presented several research proposals based on the results of the study.
Yadollah Hamidi, Shahla Shaterabadi, Ali Reza Soltanian,
Volume 7, Issue 4 (2-2020)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: One of the major challenges that managers face in competitive organizations is the improvement of the performance and productivity of the organization and understanding the factors affecting them. The promotion of the organizational performance requires managers to focus on the organizational justice and employees’ motivation at work. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between organizational justice and organizational performance in the Health Center of Kermanshah Province.
Methods: The present work was a descriptive-analytic and correlation study. This study was performed on 166 employees of the Health Center of Kermanshah in summer 2019, selected by random sampling. Data were collected using two standard questionnaires: the organizational justice of Nihoff and Morman (1993), and the organizational performance of Hersey and Goldsmith (1980). Reliability of the questionnaires was assessed by the pilot study and Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 16 software.
Results: The results showed that the average scores of the organizational justice and the organizational performance are 54.84± 16.92 and 140.54± 18.66, respectively. According to the results of Pearson correlation coefficient, there is significant relationship between the organizational justice and its dimensions with organizational performance (P<0.001). However, the procedural justice has the more potential to predict the organizational performance.
Conclusion: The organizational justice is an important variable, strongly affecting the organizational performance. Therefore, managers need to pay particular attention to the justice as an important motivating factor for employees in order to improve the organizational performance and productivity.
Mohammad Amin Mououdi, Seyedeh Fatemeh Razzaghi Pahnehkolai, Fariba Qhaempanah, Amirhossein Mahdavi, Ahmad Reza Veisi,
Volume 8, Issue 2 (6-2020)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Two toilets in sitting-type and squatting-type (Traditional) are currently used by Iranian People. Since each of these two types has its own disadvantages and merits, this research aims to design a squatting-type toilet based on ergonomic principles to eliminate its disadvantages.
Methods: 61 subjects (29 males and 32 females) aged 19-60 years were enrolled in this study. Seven anthropometric characteristics were measured using a tape measure with an accuracy of one millimeter in these subjects. A questionnaire containing 4 questions was given to them. Each person was squatting for 2 minutes on different slopes from 0 to 20 degrees. Assessment of Localized Postural Discomfort (LPD) by asking people at 3 points of body, at different slopes, and goniometry in the areas of (A), (B) ,(C) and (D) was also performed.
Results: Based on the anthropometric characteristics of the individuals, LPD and goniometry findings in different areas of the body and dimensions of toilet in the sole position, length 32.33 and width 12.74 cm was obtained. The angle between the soles of the feet was 23.33 degrees and the required slope of the soles was 12 degrees.
Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that modification of the sole position in squatting-type toilet and its sloping design can be effective in making users comfortable. Given the small number of studies on this type of toilet, further studies in this area, including research on specific populations such as the disabled people, children, pregnant women, the elderly, etc., are necessary.
Marzieh Abbassinia, Omid Kalatpour, Majid Motamedzadeh, Alireza Soltanian, Iraj Mohammadfam,
Volume 8, Issue 2 (6-2020)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Petrochemical industry is one of the most accident-prone industries, and most accidents in this industry are related to human factors. The principles of Lean production are one of the approaches used to improve the production situation. Various studies have shown that implementing Lean production improves the safety and ergonomics. In this study, the principles of Lean production were used to reduce human error and improve response in emergencies.
Methods: The basic CREAM method was used to evaluate human errors. In order to select Lean production tools appropriate to the emergency response tasks, the opinions of the 20-member panel of specialists and experts, including industry managers, HSE officials, and university professors, were used. For examining the impact of Lean production principles on reducing human error in emergencies, 6 months after the implementation of Lean production interventions, human error was re-examined. Evaluation of human errors after Lean production interventions was also performed by basic CREAM method.
Results: The results of the evaluation of human errors before and after the implementation of Lean production interventions showed that the level of control mode of the three sub-tasks improved from the tactical control mode to the strategic control mode. The most probable human error was in evacuate sub-task.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the implementation of those interventions that in addition to improving the level of safety, can improve organizational productivity, is more accepted by industry management.
Saeed Yazdani Rad, Mahsa Jahadi Naeini, Marziyeh Sadeghian, Seyed Mahdi Mousavi, Milad Abbasi,
Volume 8, Issue 4 (1-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes mental effects as well as physical effects, which can affect the occupational dimensions of people. The present study was aimed to determine the effect of individual factors on resilience and productivity loss of employees at epidemics conditions of Coronavirus in an occupational environment.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed, in Spring of 2020, on 275 personnel in one of the southern industrial companies of Iran. Data collection instruments included demographic questionnaire, researcher made questionnaire, CD-RSC resilience questionnaire, and Hershey and Gold Smith productivity questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22.
Results: The results of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that people older than 50 years and more than 20 years of work experience and low and medium experience in using personal protective equipment had a significantly lower resilience score (P<0.05). Also, the results of the analysis revealed that the individuals with experience of COVID-19 had significantly lower score of productivity (P<0.05). Moreover, the results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between resilience and productivity (r=0.249, P<0.05).
Conclusion: COVID-19 disease has reduced the resilience and productivity of workers. Therefore, adherence to health protocols in the workplace is necessary to reduce the risk of developing COVID-19.
Davood Afshari, Payam Amini, Behnoush Jafari, Ghasem Akbari,
Volume 9, Issue 1 (4-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Psychosocial factors are among the factors affecting employee productivity. Since few studies have been done in this field, this study was conducted to investigate the relationship between psychosocial factors regarding productivity.
Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2020 among 105 employees of a food distribution company in Ahvaz. Data collection tools included demographic information questionnaire, Copenhagen Psychosocial Factors Questionnaire (COPSOQ) and Goldsmith Hershey Productivity Questionnaire. Independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance and Pearson correlation coefficient were used to investigate the relationship between variables.
Results: The results showed that there was no significant relationship between any of the demographic variables with the score of psychosocial factors and productivity (P> 0.05). Psychosocial factor 2 has a negative and significant relationship with the average score of productivity, ability, role clarity, organizational support, motivation, feedback and credibility. And psychosocial factor 4 has a negative and significant relationship with motivation. The mean score of psychosocial factors, factor 1 and 3 showed a positive and significant relationship with the mean score of productivity, ability, role clarity, organizational support, motivation, feedback and credibility.
Conclusion: Considering the role of psychosocial factors on employee' productivity, it is necessary to consider organizational interventions in order to control effective psychosocial factors. More attention to psychosocial factors in the workplace can play an effective role in the efficiency and productivity of employees and the organization.
Jafar Akbari, Mahmood Abolghasemian, Amir Ghaffari, Fereydun Moghaddas, Mohammad Amin Mououdi, Shaghayegh Rahimi Kamal, Asoumeh Jozkanani,
Volume 9, Issue 1 (4-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Presenteeism is introduced as a phenomenon according to which employees are physically present in the workplace but are functionally absent. This study aimed to investigate presenteeism and productivity loss associated with health problems among employees of the Iranian Gas Transmission Company (IGTC).
Methods: The participants were 2298 employees. Data collection instruments included the Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6) and the Health and Work Questionnaire (HWQ). Data analysis was performed using the multivariate logistic regression in SPSS software version 26.
Results: More than 52% of the participants (1189 people) had experienced presenteeism at least once a year, while a total of 1073 people (47%) were non-presenteists. The results showed that the HWQ subsets including productivity (P = 0.001), focus (P = 0.023), relationships with the manager or boss (P = 0.007), impatience and irritability (P = 0.026), workplace satisfaction (P = 0.038) and finally the total HWQ score (P = 0.011) had a statistically significant relationship with presenteeism.
Conclusion: Presenteeism reduces the productivity of the workforce by reducing individual productivity, reducing people's ability to concentrate, the inappropriate perception of the relationship with the manager/ boss, increasing their impatience, irritability and level of work-related stress and eventually reducing the level of people's satisfaction with the work environment. This imposes a lot of costs on the organization.
Rashid Heidarimoghadam, Alireza Mortezapour, Khadijeh Najafighobadi, Hamid Saeednia, Saeedeh Mosaferchi,
Volume 10, Issue 3 (12-2022)
Abstract
Objectives: The importance of surgery and its high workload are not hidden from anyone. So far, various studies have been conducted with the NASA-TLX instrument and other commonly used instruments to measure surgeons’ workload. The present study seeks to investigate the relationship between the mental workload of surgeons and their productivity through the validation of specialized tools for this job in Iranian culture.
Methods: After checking the validity and reliability of "SURG-TLX" and productivity tools, they were utilized among 60 surgeons to investigate the relationship between their workload and productivity (WHO-HPQ tool). Content validity indices, Cronbach's alpha coefficient and Spearman's correlation coefficient were used to analyse the results.
Results: Both tools had good validity and reliability in Iranian culture. The results of the relationship between mental workload subscales with different dimensions of productivity showed that some dimensions of mental workload including mental needs (correlation coefficient -0.65 and significance level 0.02), physical needs (correlation coefficient -0.54 and significance level 0.04) and time requirements (correlation coefficient -0.44 and significance level 0.02) had a reverse and significant relationship with the overall productivity score. Despite the reverse relationship between the other dimensions of mental workload and the overall productivity score in surgeons, this relationship was not statistically significant. The results indicated a reverse and significant relationship between some of the mental workload and some of the productivity subscales.
Conclusion: In addition to the possibility of using these tools in the future studies in Iran, due to the direct relationship between workload and productivity in surgeons, measures can be taken to maintain the workload at a standard level and prevent the reduction of their productivity.
Manizhe Afrashte Fard,
Volume 12, Issue 3 (12-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: Presenteeism is defined as a global phenomenon that causes problems for workers who are present at work but are not fully efficient due to illness, boredom, unwellness, or other medical conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between presenteeism and the levels of labor productivity and job stress among the employees of a company affiliated with the Ministry of Petroleum.
Methods: The study subjects (n=59) were randomly selected from among the official employees of a provincial gas company according to the Cochran formula. The data of the study were collected using the Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6) and Health and Work Questionnaire (HWQ). The one-sample t-test was used to check the significance of presenteeism among employees. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 26 software.
Results: In this research, it was found that 27 individuals (46%) participating in the project were presentees, while 32 people (54%) were not. The results showed that there was a statistically significant relationship between presenteeism and the subcategories of productivity (r=0.003) and the subcategories of job stress (r=0.016).
Conclusion: In this research, it was found that higher levels of presenteeism led to lower productivity of the workforce and higher levels of job stress, which imposes high costs on the organization.
