Denis A. Coelho

Integrated total quality management: Beyond zero defects theory and towards innovation

This paper reviews the benefits of integrating management systems (MSs) and proposes a rationale for the integration in manufacturing companies, contributing to increased competitiveness. Benefits accrue from the integrated implementation of MSs for quality, environment, occupational health and safety, social responsibility, maintenance and energy. integrated total quality management, as the largest system, represents all management sub-systems in the organisation, converging to assure convenient satisfaction to all organisation stakeholders. Additionally, it is widely accepted that quality management strategically supports the management of innovation. However, while the importance of innovation for competitiveness is increasingly acknowledged, countries with a culture less prone to foster innovation increasingly face the need to encourage implementation of effective innovation MSs in companies in order to achieve competitive advantages in the global market, even if not immediately, but upon implementation. Springing from this approach, this paper reviews benefits of integration and intends to emphasise how integration of MSs should consider an innovation MS as a key part. Although available empirical evidence of the benefits of the latter approach is yet hardly significant, preliminary data support the viability of attaining added efficiency in generating competitive advantages in manufacturing companies by integrating the innovation MS within the group of already integrated MSs.

A comparative analysis of six bionic design methods

Design inspired by nature is getting to the forefront of the search for environmental sustainability. A number of design methods, intended especially to guide students and professionals from several disciplines in carrying out the development of biologically inspired design, have been proposed. The paper establishes a comparative analysis between six methods. These are presented in similar depth, with the parameters of analysis described. The analysis is based on scrutiny of the methods, in relation to the support given towards the attainment of four goals (form optimisation, organisational effectiveness, multiple requirements satisfaction and paradigm innovation for improved functional performance), considered of paramount importance to typical design endeavours aiming at achieving innovative concepts, optimisation of specific features or performance and environmental sustainability. The comparative analysis is intended to support designers in selecting a method that is adequate to the problem at hand. The analysis also identifies goals where the methods considered offer no or reduced support for their attainment, identifying the need for novel methodological proposals. As a conclusion, the requirement to integrate validation activities in the bionic design processes is emphasised.

A study on the relation between manufacturing strategy, company size, country culture and product and process innovation in Europe

With the goal of contributing to the manufacturing strategy formulation discussion within international manufacturing networks, a set of data analyses were performed with the aim of empirically supporting conceptual approaches. This article presents the results of establishing correlations between four sets of data pertaining to 14 European countries. Six inter-relations are investigated between the datasets, pertaining to manufacturing strategy, distribution of company size, product and production related innovation and measures of culture of the countries. The analyses draw on empirical data, collected independently by EU organisms and within the International Manufacturing Strategy Survey (IMSS) IV consortium, with less than three years apart in date of collection. Hofstede’s (1980, 2001) measures of power distance, masculinity, individuality and uncertainty avoidance constitute the cultural measures considered. Pearson correlations resulted mostly in low levels of correlation, but considerable levels of determination were unveiled. These concern inverse correlations between rates of specific kinds of innovation in manufacturing companies and the percentage of large companies per country as well as the employment of a specific kind of manufacturing strategy. The results provide an overview of European specific dimensions of manufacturing and how they match each other, based on a recent time frame (2003 to 2005).

Innovation in the organisation of management systems in Portuguese SMEs

In the past, economic success of most countries depended on the performance of their greater companies. Nowadays, bearing globalisation in mind and the wide implementation of the multinational companies, the economic success of developing countries and the internationalisation of their economy depends on the performance of SMEs. However, these companies, in some countries mostly of a family scope, usually have insufficient know-how about new forms of management. Recognising that management systems are nowadays considered market qualifiers, this paper presents two ways the smaller companies can direct their efforts to production while implementing the various management systems. Outsourcing the implementation and management of the several management systems to companies specialising in that activity is one way. The alternative is forming new companies with the same goal, but in a cooperative way amongst several small or medium sized companies operating in the same industrial sector or in close geographical proximity. The choice between alternatives for an SME depends on its sector of activity, its financial health, and applicable market qualifiers and order winners. Examples of both forms of outsourcing are discussed and the selection criteria inherent to this decision process are discussed based on the results of a survey of Portuguese companies.

Horizontal and Vertical Handheld Pointing Devices Comparison for Increasing Human Systems Integration at the Design Stage

In addition to postural and biomechanical aspects related to usage of handheld pointing devices it is also important to perform usability assessment. The paper reports on an experimental study comparing two computer pointing devices, a standard horizontal PC mouse and a vertical device (for neutral pronation of the forearm), both commercially available. The standardized tasks implemented by software and performed by 20 experienced computer mouse users included pointing, dragging and steering. The usability parameters of effectiveness and efficiency were calculated and the participants subjectively assessed their discomfort, effort and ease of use in relation to each device in each task. Efficiency and effectiveness were higher for the horizontal device. Assessments of discomfort, effort and ease of use across the different tasks also supported the consideration of preference for the horizontal device in detriment of the vertical model. The results suggest that designing hybrid configurations may configure a better compromise.

Working conditions under multiple exposures: A cross-sectional study of private sector administrative workers.

BACKGROUND Office workers are increasingly exposed to physical and psychosocial risk factors. OBJECTIVE To assess the association between environmental, physical and organizational working conditions and the physical and psychosocial well-being of a sample of private sector office workers. METHODS Musculoskeletal pain was collected from a body map and the Disabilities of the Arms, Shoulders and Hands questionnaire. The short version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire enabled collecting information on six job related satisfaction and dissatisfaction subscales. A checklist for ergonomics in computer work guided the analysis of ergonomic factors and measurements were taken to characterize environmental conditions. Association between exposures and outcomes was calculated using IBM SPSS Statistics 20 software. RESULTS Significant moderate positive association was found between dissatisfaction with job psychological demands and musculoskeletal pain in the upper body (0.40; p= 0.05), as well as between postural ergonomic mismatches and dissatisfaction with job insecurity towards the future (0.42; p= 0.04). A significant moderate negative association (-0,47; p= 0.02) was found as well between satisfaction with job social support and with leadership quality and location of the work station in an open-plan office as opposed to smaller office rooms. CONCLUSIONS The results show how raising awareness of the risk factors encountered in contemporary office work is still necessary to promote widespread improvement of working conditions, from both a physical and a psychosocial perspective.

Ergonomic considerations for a systemic approach: the millenium maize mills project in northern Mozambique

Malnutrition is a major problem for rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa. Technology such as the maize mill, which alleviates the burden of pounding grain, also introduces opportunities and new challenges for improved nutrition. While there have been many technical studies of grain mills, and maize mills are in operation in hundreds of locations throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, the maize mill has not been studied from a socio-technical system perspective. This paper reports on the first phase of a study grounded on the hypothesis that mills can improve nutrition by exploiting their function as a social gathering point and providing both instruction and enjoyable healthful products. The objective was to identify those products that could be made available that customers at the mill would be willing to buy. Following observation of food availability, preparation, and consumption preferences within daily work routines, sample products were prepared and presented for cooking and consumption, along with some discussion at a district center mill owned by a local woman. The responses of customers and the mill owner were positive. Strategies for local manufacture and distribution of these products for sale and roles of the mill owner and the mothers are questions for future study.

Articulation at shoulder level - A pilot experimental study on car seat comfort

This article reports on a pilot experimental study aimed at a first evaluation of the introduction of an articulation in the upper part of the seat backrest. The idea of introducing this articulation sprang from prevention of whiplash injuries and this study tentatively assesses its potential for improvement in comfort. This was done considering a pre-defined articulation height. A height for the articulation of 43.5 cm above the H-point of a reference seat was theoretically deduced based on a population with an average sitting height of 88 cm. Participants evaluated the articulated seat in comparison with the reference seat. Twelve participants were divided into three groups of sitting height. In a laboratory environment subjective comfort evaluations and preferred values of deployment of the articulation and of counter-tilting of the headrest were registered. Driving on the roads completed and validated the laboratory assessments. The reference seat was deemed less comfortable for the participants with short and medium sitting height than for the tall ones. There was a notable improvement in comfort for most of the medium and short sitting height participants when using the articulated seat. The articulation was fully deployed by most participants.

Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in office work: A case study

Twelve recently built office work stations, where jobs imply continued use of information and communication technologies, were analyzed for ergonomic risk factors. Based on a literature review of ergonomic recommendations for computer and general office work, a checklist was devised for assistance in identifying inadequate ergonomic situations, a process that was informed by pain complaints information. RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) was selected to estimate the risk of MSDs, considering the criteria of applicability and appropriateness to the case studied. This method was applied by an occupational health and safety technician to the most critical job observed in the workplace. Criticality was estimated through observations aided by the systematic use of a checklist tailored to the specific office scenario. Recommendations for change were provided for implementation in all workplaces in the office, in order to improve work conditions, and guide the setup of a MSD prevention training program.

Editorial: Ergonomics and sustainable development in IDCs

Given the complexity of problems and diverse reality of industrially developing countries (IDCs), the goals for ergonomic action vary greatly according to the particular case and scenario at hand. This editorial proposes a multi-dimensional approach to reflect on the complexity of ergonomic needs in developing countries, focusing on development aid. The latter can be a means of promoting consideration of ergonomics contributions, at both the planning and deployment stages of this kind of programmes. A set of development programmes, adopting a systemic design approach, is reviewed, with a focus on ergonomics. It is argued that macro-ergonomics can give important contributions towards achieving sustainable development, and, albeit indirectly, in mitigating the consequences of natural disasters. Recognising the urgency in achieving sustainable development, a set of examples illustrating transitioning between goals for ergonomics intervention, as development progresses, is discussed from a practical perspective.