Principles of motion economy versus physiological sustainability: some lessons from the forest industry  

Oleh:

Dickinson, Paul

Jenis: Article from Proceeding
Dalam koleksi: The 14th Asia Pacific Industrial Engineering and Management Systems Conference (APIEMS), 3-6 December 2013 Cebu, Philippines, page 1-8.
Topik: motion economy; dynamic work; static work; physiological; sustainability; work design; rest allowance.
Fulltext: 1039.pdf (660.93KB)

Isi artikel

‘Principles of motion economy’ have existed almost as long as industry has existed. In the past century, sets of these principles have been formalized and documented. They suggest that by economizing human movement, total energy exertion per unit of production decreases, and productivity increases. Productivity is the ratio of production output relative to input, and in forestry work most of the input is human energy because steep terrain often prohibits mechanization by ground-based machines. Here, the major factor limiting production is the physiological capacity of the worker, with methods engineers focused on ‘no wasted movements’ in the belief this minimizes fatigue relative to production. However, motion economy has led to situations where recovery time requirements have increased beyond the work element times saved by reduced movement. Reasons include the replacement of healthy dynamic muscular work with static (isometric) work. This has been recognized and documented by numerous ergonomists referenced in this paper who suggest modification to some of the traditional motion economy principles. This paper discusses an example from the author’s work experience, reinforced by published research demonstrating the importance of frequent movement and postural variation, and hazards associated with some of the traditional motion economy principles, particularly an increase in static muscular work. A reductive physiological approach recognizes the human body’s evolvement to undertake dynamic work, and the concepts apply to any industry involving labor-intensive work. Most traditional principles of motion economy are still valid from both productivity and health perspectives, but the paper stresses the importance for ‘work designers’ to recognize particular principles that from a physiological viewpoint are unhealthy and potentially unsustainable, and to consider this knowledge in their design of work and equipment.

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