Improving work conditions formanufacturing workers : A study at a module house manufacturer

• Main Author: Trång, Christina
• Format: Bachelor Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Luleå tekniska universitet, Institutionen för ekonomi, teknik och samhälle 2017
• Subjects: Work environment; ergonomics; workstation layout; user involvement; Arbetsmiljö; ergonomi; arbetsstationslayout; användarmedverkan; Engineering and Technology; Teknik och teknologier; Luleå
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-65919

This thesis is the final component of the Master of Science degree within Industrial design engineering at Luleå University of Technology. The purpose of the project was to analyze an issue and developing a conceptual solution based on scientific knowledge within the field. The project was carried out at SmålandsVillan's production facility in Sundsvall which produces module bungalows and condominiums. The objective of the project was to define and analyze why the company struggled with sick leaves among the operators and the aim was to develop a solution to ease the strained work situation. When the project was initiated in January, the given issues were that two workstations, floor and middle joist system, had high sick leave due to physically demanding work and that they had been struggling with backlogs in the previous fall. The mapping of the current state started with a wide scanning of empirical data of sick leaves but also incidents and accidents for all teams at the facility. The data showed that the two workstations had higher sick leave than most of the other teams, thus the project carried out a more thorough mapping on these workstations. The focused mapping was carried out in two steps: First by observing ergonomic postures and analyzing with a modified version of the Ovako Working Posture Analyzing System (OWAS), and secondly by interviewing the operators to map their mental work situation. When the mappings were put together and analyzed, it was clear that the cause of the issues at floor joist system was a conflict between the operators and managers rather than physically demanding work. The facility had expanded its production in the fall and in that process, floor joist system lost stock areas, fell behind in the production pace, and got in a conflict with the managers. Because of the layout issues, the project focus was widened to map the current layout as well. At middle joist system, the found issues were static kneeling postures and carrying heavy loads. The ideation phase of the project ...