Track: Human Factors and Ergonomics

Abstract

Poor ergonomics leads to frustrated and fatigued workers that may not perform their job like they were trained which could create a product quality issue. In workstations for visual inspections, operators can have visual fatigue due to excessive usage of devices with light emissions, glare from inspection or poor lighting and too many components to check within a very short period. Similar conditions exist in a leading manufacturer of aircraft parts for the commercial and business jet aircraft markets. Visual quality of parts is what works in an aircraft interior that showcases comfort, safety and even luxury, the sensual benefits conveyed to passengers. Providing standard operating procedures and reference target specifications will not be enough to ensure consistency and reliability of visual inspection results without first identifying the ergonomic risk factors in a visual inspection workstation. Accordingly, with the heavy use of the faculty of eyesight and other faculties of cognition to assess visual quality performance of aircraft parts products, this  study aims to assess the importance of  incorporating cognitive ergonomics in the design of work conditions and environments that enhance cognitive functioning at work, and as a consequence, improve worker productivity and product quality. Poor ergonomics leads to frustrated and fatigued workers that may not perform their job like they were trained which could create a product quality issue. In workstations for visual inspections, operators can have visual fatigue due to excessive usage of devices with light emissions, glare from inspection or poor lighting and too many components to check within a very short period. Similar conditions exist in a leading manufacturer of aircraft parts for the commercial and business jet aircraft markets. Visual quality of parts is what works in an aircraft interior that showcases comfort, safety and even luxury, the sensual benefits conveyed to passengers. Providing standard operating procedures and reference target specifications will not be enough to ensure consistency and reliability of visual inspection results without first identifying the ergonomic risk factors in a visual inspection workstation. Accordingly, with the heavy use of the faculty of eyesight and other faculties of cognition to assess visual quality performance of aircraft parts products, this  study aims to assess the importance of  incorporating cognitive ergonomics in the design of work conditions and environments that enhance cognitive functioning at work, and as a consequence, improve worker productivity and product quality.