Andrea Sinn-Behrendt

Capability Related Stress Analysis to Support Design of Work Systems

Two complementary studies have been conducted to analyze the effects of the demographic change in the automotive industry.

Auswertung altersdifferenzierter Fähigkeitsdaten zur Entwicklung von ergonomischen Gestaltungsansätzen in der Produktion

This article discusses the age-differentiated development of the physical capabilities of production employees against the background of demographic change. In addition to a description of the current scientific debate on this topic it also presents new research from the automotive industry. Unlike previous studies, this work focuses on employees with disabilities or special needs who no longer possess certain individual abilities. It is based on a statistical analysis of 1233 capability profiles of employees with disabilities or special needs from different production areas at a German automotive company. The results of the research show significant age-dependencies for 25 out of a total of 32 analyzed capability characteristics of disabled employees. Compared to employees with full capacity, the number of significant capacity differences becomes markedly greater for employees with disabilities or special needs as their age increases. In addition, age dependencies were identified for workers with impaired abilities in all categories of workplace requirements analyzed. When comparing the capabilities of employees with disabilities or special needs with the requirements of production workplaces, it is possible to identify potential, partly age-dependent bottlenecks relating to the deployment of staffin accordance with their abilities, for two capability characteristics.ZusammenfassungDieser Beitrag diskutiert die altersdifferenzierte Entwicklung physischer Fähigkeiten von Produktionsmitarbeitern vor dem Hintergrund des demographischen Wandels. Neben einer Darstellung der bisherigen wissenschaft lichen Auseinandersetzung mit dieser Thematik werden neue Forschungsergebnisse aus der Automobilindustrie präsentiert. Im Unterschied zu bisherigen Studien wird in diesem Artikel der Fokus auf Mitarbeiter mit Einsatzeinschränkungen, d. h. einzelne Fähigkeiten sind nicht mehr vollständig vorhanden, gerichtet. Hierzu wurden aus verschiedenen Produktionsbereichen eines deutschen Unternehmens der Automobilindustrie 1233 Fähigkeitsprofile von einsatzeingeschränkten Mitarbeitern statistisch ausgewertet. Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung zeigen signifikante Altersabhängigkeiten bei einsatzeingeschränkten Mitarbeitern bei insgesamt 25 von 32 ermittelten Fähigkeitsmerkmalen auf. Im Vergleich zu Mitarbeitern mit voller Leistungsfähigkeit ist die Anzahl signifikanter Fähigkeitsunterschiede im Altersgang bei Mitarbeitern mit Einsatzeinschränkung deutlich höher. Daruber hinaus sind in allen betrachteten Kategorien von Arbeitsplatzanforderungen (Körperhaltungen, Aktionskräfte sowie manuelles Handhaben von Lasten) Altersabhängigkeiten bei leistungsgewandelten Werkern identifiziert worden. Werden ferner die Fähigkeiten von Mitarbeitern mit Einsatzeinschränkung den Anforderungen der Arbeitsplätze in der Produktion gegenübergestellt, so werden bei zwei Fähigkeitsmerkmalen potentielle, teils altersabhängige Engpässe für einen fähigkeitsgerechten Mitarbeitereinsatz identifiziert.AbstractThis article discusses the age-differentiated development of the physical capabilities of production employees against the background of demographic change. In addition to a description of the current scientific debate on this topic it also presents new research from the automotive industry. Unlike previous studies, this work focuses on employees with disabilities or special needs who no longer possess certain individual abilities. It is based on a statistical analysis of 1233 capability profiles of employees with disabilities or special needs from different production areas at a German automotive company. The results of the research show significant age-dependencies for 25 out of a total of 32 analyzed capability characteristics of disabled employees. Compared to employees with full capacity, the number of significant capacity differences becomes markedly greater for employees with disabilities or special needs as their age increases. In addition, age dependencies were identified for workers with impaired abilities in all categories of workplace requirements analyzed. When comparing the capabilities of employees with disabilities or special needs with the requirements of production workplaces, it is possible to identify potential, partly age-dependent bottlenecks relating to the deployment of staffin accordance with their abilities, for two capability characteristics.

Analysis and Evaluation of Physical Workload During Long-Cyclic Tasks as a Prerequisite for Ergonomic Work Design

Evaluation of physical workload such as the screening tool Ergonomic Assessment Worksheet (EAWS) were developed and validated for use in industrial manufacturing with short cycles (up to 3 min). If this tool is used for work stations that have significantly longer cycles or no cycle at all, its use is limited. On the one hand, measuring the workload intensity becomes increasingly expensive. On the other hand, the workload intensity for these scenarios has to be examined as well. The following contribution presents an instance of how the EAWS can be used for long-cycle tasks on the example of a maintenance workplace at Deutsche Bahn. This work is focused on methods for adapted data collection from which indicators for possible adjustments to the evaluation procedure can be concluded.

The comparative analysis of postural and biomechanical parameters of preschool teachers pre- and post-intervention within the ErgoKiTa study

Abstract The ErgoKiTa study aimed to determine the musculoskeletal strain of preschool teachers and to identify and evaluate suitable prevention measures to reduce this strain. A comprehensive work analysis using objective and subjective methods was performed to determine the present work situation in preschools in Germany, and the results were used to derive suitable intervention measures. The musculoskeletal strain was determined by means of a comprehensive analysis of postures, forces and movements using the CUELA system and calculated as cumulative shift workloads. The intervention measures were evaluated in a pre- and post-intervention assessment for 12 participants. Significant alterations in the duration of postures were determined, specifically for the daily duration of knee-straining postures as well as the degree of trunk flexion between 60° and 90°, which were reduced from 8.4 to 3.1% and from 3.7 to 2.4%, respectively, following the intervention. Practitioner Summary: Research has shown that preschool teachers are at risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. The effects of a situation-orientated and behaviour-orientated intervention approach were assessed with regard to awkward working postures. Significant alterations in the duration of postures following the intervention were found, specifically for knee-straining postures.

Analysis and Evaluation of Physical Workload Regarding Non-cyclic Tasks

Most of the ergonomic methods to rate the physical strains of jobs (EAWS for example) can only be used for traditional production workplaces such as assembly lines. Craft professions are difficult to rate with these methods, since the tasks of these professions are long cycled or uncycled and do not repeat after a short time. This work will show a new way, making it possible to conduct a work place assessment for long or uncycled tasks using the example of roofers and carpenters. The so called SOP method uses short sections of a working day to define the whole strain of a day.

Empowering Corporate Ageing Management by Interconnecting Existing Data: A Case Study from the German Automotive Industry

In the context of demographic changes in Germany the question of how to maintain corporate competitiveness and employees’ work ability becomes important. The case study in the automotive industry shows that in various corporate spheres of activity there are good initiatives but a strategic approach which interconnects existing processes in terms of a comprehensive ageing management is missing. Relevant corporate experts were therefore looking for support. The so-called FIT-model devised during the survey helps to make the issue in corporations more comprehensible. Five additional products were developed to support the organisation of performance indicators; to raise management’s awareness of the issue; to communicate principles of ageing-appropriate work design; to reach the employees with the programmes of workplace health promotion and to improve the cooperation between companies and social insurance agencies. Initial feedback to the largely industry-independent results is positive.

Auswertung altersdifferenzierter Fähigkeitsdaten zur Entwicklung von ergonomischen Gestaltungsansätzen in der Produktion@@@Analysis of age-differentiated capability data for the development of ergonomic design approaches in production

This article discusses the age-differentiated development of the physical capabilities of production employees against the background of demographic change. In addition to a description of the current scientific debate on this topic it also presents new research from the automotive industry. Unlike previous studies, this work focuses on employees with disabilities or special needs who no longer possess certain individual abilities. It is based on a statistical analysis of 1233 capability profiles of employees with disabilities or special needs from different production areas at a German automotive company. The results of the research show significant age-dependencies for 25 out of a total of 32 analyzed capability characteristics of disabled employees. Compared to employees with full capacity, the number of significant capacity differences becomes markedly greater for employees with disabilities or special needs as their age increases. In addition, age dependencies were identified for workers with impaired abilities in all categories of workplace requirements analyzed. When comparing the capabilities of employees with disabilities or special needs with the requirements of production workplaces, it is possible to identify potential, partly age-dependent bottlenecks relating to the deployment of staffin accordance with their abilities, for two capability characteristics.ZusammenfassungDieser Beitrag diskutiert die altersdifferenzierte Entwicklung physischer Fähigkeiten von Produktionsmitarbeitern vor dem Hintergrund des demographischen Wandels. Neben einer Darstellung der bisherigen wissenschaft lichen Auseinandersetzung mit dieser Thematik werden neue Forschungsergebnisse aus der Automobilindustrie präsentiert. Im Unterschied zu bisherigen Studien wird in diesem Artikel der Fokus auf Mitarbeiter mit Einsatzeinschränkungen, d. h. einzelne Fähigkeiten sind nicht mehr vollständig vorhanden, gerichtet. Hierzu wurden aus verschiedenen Produktionsbereichen eines deutschen Unternehmens der Automobilindustrie 1233 Fähigkeitsprofile von einsatzeingeschränkten Mitarbeitern statistisch ausgewertet. Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung zeigen signifikante Altersabhängigkeiten bei einsatzeingeschränkten Mitarbeitern bei insgesamt 25 von 32 ermittelten Fähigkeitsmerkmalen auf. Im Vergleich zu Mitarbeitern mit voller Leistungsfähigkeit ist die Anzahl signifikanter Fähigkeitsunterschiede im Altersgang bei Mitarbeitern mit Einsatzeinschränkung deutlich höher. Daruber hinaus sind in allen betrachteten Kategorien von Arbeitsplatzanforderungen (Körperhaltungen, Aktionskräfte sowie manuelles Handhaben von Lasten) Altersabhängigkeiten bei leistungsgewandelten Werkern identifiziert worden. Werden ferner die Fähigkeiten von Mitarbeitern mit Einsatzeinschränkung den Anforderungen der Arbeitsplätze in der Produktion gegenübergestellt, so werden bei zwei Fähigkeitsmerkmalen potentielle, teils altersabhängige Engpässe für einen fähigkeitsgerechten Mitarbeitereinsatz identifiziert.AbstractThis article discusses the age-differentiated development of the physical capabilities of production employees against the background of demographic change. In addition to a description of the current scientific debate on this topic it also presents new research from the automotive industry. Unlike previous studies, this work focuses on employees with disabilities or special needs who no longer possess certain individual abilities. It is based on a statistical analysis of 1233 capability profiles of employees with disabilities or special needs from different production areas at a German automotive company. The results of the research show significant age-dependencies for 25 out of a total of 32 analyzed capability characteristics of disabled employees. Compared to employees with full capacity, the number of significant capacity differences becomes markedly greater for employees with disabilities or special needs as their age increases. In addition, age dependencies were identified for workers with impaired abilities in all categories of workplace requirements analyzed. When comparing the capabilities of employees with disabilities or special needs with the requirements of production workplaces, it is possible to identify potential, partly age-dependent bottlenecks relating to the deployment of staffin accordance with their abilities, for two capability characteristics.

Development of a database for capability-appropriate workplace design in the manufacturing industry

BACKGROUND: Due to demographic change, less young workers are available and the overall number of workers will decrease. The length of absenteeism, especially due to musculoskeletal disorders, increases with higher age. OBJECTIVE: The range of performance between individuals grows wider although there are exceptions for different capabilities and elderly workers. Therefore, a capability-appropriate workplace design is necessary to meet physical workplace demands in the manufacturing industry and in order to preserve the workability of the workforce. METHODS: The human-centred design process was used to provide a design solution that meets the needs of the workplace designers. The design solutions are evaluated three times. RESULTS: The high number of capabilities with a wide range of individual performance can be best captured and represented in a database. Therefore, a database is developed in which relevant physical manufacturing capabilities are collected and processed for workplace designers. Based on this information, design solutions for a prospective capability-appropriate workplace design can be derived relative to the age structure of the manufacturing plant. CONCLUSIONS: This gives the workplace designer propositions on how to plan their workplaces so as to avoid excessive stress and musculoskeletal disorders in the employees.

Analysis of age-differentiated capability data for the development of ergonomic design approaches in production

This article discusses the age-differentiated development of the physical capabilities of production employees against the background of demographic change. In addition to a description of the current scientific debate on this topic it also presents new research from the automotive industry. Unlike previous studies, this work focuses on employees with disabilities or special needs who no longer possess certain individual abilities. It is based on a statistical analysis of 1233 capability profiles of employees with disabilities or special needs from different production areas at a German automotive company. The results of the research show significant age-dependencies for 25 out of a total of 32 analyzed capability characteristics of disabled employees. Compared to employees with full capacity, the number of significant capacity differences becomes markedly greater for employees with disabilities or special needs as their age increases. In addition, age dependencies were identified for workers with impaired abilities in all categories of workplace requirements analyzed. When comparing the capabilities of employees with disabilities or special needs with the requirements of production workplaces, it is possible to identify potential, partly age-dependent bottlenecks relating to the deployment of staffin accordance with their abilities, for two capability characteristics.ZusammenfassungDieser Beitrag diskutiert die altersdifferenzierte Entwicklung physischer Fähigkeiten von Produktionsmitarbeitern vor dem Hintergrund des demographischen Wandels. Neben einer Darstellung der bisherigen wissenschaft lichen Auseinandersetzung mit dieser Thematik werden neue Forschungsergebnisse aus der Automobilindustrie präsentiert. Im Unterschied zu bisherigen Studien wird in diesem Artikel der Fokus auf Mitarbeiter mit Einsatzeinschränkungen, d. h. einzelne Fähigkeiten sind nicht mehr vollständig vorhanden, gerichtet. Hierzu wurden aus verschiedenen Produktionsbereichen eines deutschen Unternehmens der Automobilindustrie 1233 Fähigkeitsprofile von einsatzeingeschränkten Mitarbeitern statistisch ausgewertet. Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung zeigen signifikante Altersabhängigkeiten bei einsatzeingeschränkten Mitarbeitern bei insgesamt 25 von 32 ermittelten Fähigkeitsmerkmalen auf. Im Vergleich zu Mitarbeitern mit voller Leistungsfähigkeit ist die Anzahl signifikanter Fähigkeitsunterschiede im Altersgang bei Mitarbeitern mit Einsatzeinschränkung deutlich höher. Daruber hinaus sind in allen betrachteten Kategorien von Arbeitsplatzanforderungen (Körperhaltungen, Aktionskräfte sowie manuelles Handhaben von Lasten) Altersabhängigkeiten bei leistungsgewandelten Werkern identifiziert worden. Werden ferner die Fähigkeiten von Mitarbeitern mit Einsatzeinschränkung den Anforderungen der Arbeitsplätze in der Produktion gegenübergestellt, so werden bei zwei Fähigkeitsmerkmalen potentielle, teils altersabhängige Engpässe für einen fähigkeitsgerechten Mitarbeitereinsatz identifiziert.AbstractThis article discusses the age-differentiated development of the physical capabilities of production employees against the background of demographic change. In addition to a description of the current scientific debate on this topic it also presents new research from the automotive industry. Unlike previous studies, this work focuses on employees with disabilities or special needs who no longer possess certain individual abilities. It is based on a statistical analysis of 1233 capability profiles of employees with disabilities or special needs from different production areas at a German automotive company. The results of the research show significant age-dependencies for 25 out of a total of 32 analyzed capability characteristics of disabled employees. Compared to employees with full capacity, the number of significant capacity differences becomes markedly greater for employees with disabilities or special needs as their age increases. In addition, age dependencies were identified for workers with impaired abilities in all categories of workplace requirements analyzed. When comparing the capabilities of employees with disabilities or special needs with the requirements of production workplaces, it is possible to identify potential, partly age-dependent bottlenecks relating to the deployment of staffin accordance with their abilities, for two capability characteristics.