Understanding the Needs of Workers

Oct 13, 2025 by thesweetdesigns.com 30 views

Introduction

PT. Growth Sumatra Industry, a steel manufacturing company, has been facing challenges in increasing the efficiency and safety of workers in the warehouse of auxiliary materials. The manual and recurring activity of burning helpers, using simple and non-ergonomic work facilities, is the main source of complaints and workloads for employees. The work posture that requires workers to bend with short-sized shovels and standing work postures that use a tame with long stalks, causing the risk of injury and discomfort. This study aims to apply the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method in designing new ergonomic work facilities to overcome this problem.

Understanding the Needs of Workers

To understand the needs and complaints of warehouse workers, this research starts by observing and interviewing them. The Standard Nordic Questionnaire is used to identify complaints in certain limbs, while workers' pulse is used to find out their workload categories. The Rapid Entire Body Assessment (Reba) method is used to assess the level of work posture risk. The results show that the sitting work posture when using short-sized shovels has a high risk (8-10) and includes heavy workloads. This indicates that the current work facilities are not meeting the needs of workers, leading to discomfort and risk of injury.

Designing Ergonomic Solutions

Based on the data obtained, the research team designed a new ergonomic work facility, taking into account the principles of anthropometry to achieve ideal work postures. The result is the design of a passion table with a height of 77.9 cm, length 151,295 cm, and a width of 40.487 cm. This design is expected to provide a comfortable and safe working environment for workers, reducing the risk of injury and increasing worker comfort.

Priority in Design

QFD helps identify the most important technical characteristics for helper. The resistance of materials, welding strength, and vibrations produced become the main focus in design, given the high level of difficulty in meeting these aspects. This ensures that the designed work facility meets the needs of workers and is durable and long-lasting.

Benefits of Ergonomic Design

The design of ergonomic work facilities is expected to provide various benefits for PT. Growth Sumatra Industry, such as:

Improving the Health and Safety of Workers

More ergonomic work posture will reduce the risk of injury and increase worker comfort. This will lead to a healthier and safer working environment, reducing the risk of work-related injuries and illnesses.

Increasing Efficiency

Ergonomic work facilities will make workers more comfortable and focused, thereby increasing productivity. This will lead to improved work efficiency and reduced workloads, allowing workers to complete tasks more quickly and accurately.

Reducing Costs

Reduction of injury risk and increasing efficiency will help reduce medical costs and increase company profits. This will lead to cost savings for the company, allowing them to invest in other areas of the business.

Increasing Work Motivation

Workers who feel comfortable and safe at work will be more motivated to provide the best performance. This will lead to improved job satisfaction and reduced turnover rates, as workers are more likely to stay with the company if they feel valued and supported.

Conclusion

Ergonomic Work Facilities Design in PT. Growth Sumatra Industry using the QFD method is the right step to improve work efficiency and safety. By paying attention to the needs of workers and applying ergonomic principles in design, companies can create a safer and more comfortable work environment, which will ultimately improve the performance and welfare of workers. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of QFD in designing ergonomic work facilities and highlights the importance of considering the needs of workers in the design process.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

PT. Growth Sumatra Industry should implement the designed ergonomic work facilities in the warehouse of auxiliary materials to improve work efficiency and safety.
The company should continue to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the designed work facilities and make any necessary adjustments to ensure that they meet the needs of workers.
The use of QFD in designing ergonomic work facilities should be promoted and encouraged in other industries and companies to improve work efficiency and safety.

Limitations

This study has several limitations that should be noted:

The study was conducted in a single company and may not be generalizable to other industries or companies.
The study only considered the needs of warehouse workers and may not have considered the needs of other workers in the company.
The study only designed a single ergonomic work facility and may not have considered other design options.

Future Research Directions

Future research should aim to:

Conduct a larger-scale study to generalize the findings of this study to other industries and companies.
Consider the needs of other workers in the company and design ergonomic work facilities that meet their needs.
Design and test multiple ergonomic work facilities to determine the most effective design options.

By addressing these limitations and future research directions, this study can contribute to the development of more effective and efficient ergonomic work facilities that improve work efficiency and safety in various industries and companies.

Introduction

The design of ergonomic work facilities is a critical aspect of improving work efficiency and safety in various industries and companies. The Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method is a powerful tool that can be used to design ergonomic work facilities that meet the needs of workers. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the design of ergonomic work facilities using the QFD method.

Q: What is the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method?

A: The QFD method is a tool that helps identify and meet the needs of customers appropriately. In the context of designing ergonomic work facilities, the "customers" are warehouse workers who need safe and comfortable work facilities.

Q: How does the QFD method work?

A: The QFD method involves several steps, including:

Identifying customer needs: This involves observing and interviewing warehouse workers to understand their needs and complaints.
Conducting a survey: This involves using standard questionnaires to identify complaints in certain limbs and workers' pulse to find out their workload categories.
Analyzing data: This involves using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (Reba) method to assess the level of work posture risk.
Designing ergonomic solutions: This involves designing a new ergonomic work facility that takes into account the principles of anthropometry to achieve ideal work postures.
Prioritizing design: This involves identifying the most important technical characteristics for the helper, such as resistance of materials, welding strength, and vibrations produced.

Q: What are the benefits of using the QFD method in designing ergonomic work facilities?

A: The benefits of using the QFD method in designing ergonomic work facilities include:

Improved health and safety: More ergonomic work posture will reduce the risk of injury and increase worker comfort.
Increased efficiency: Ergonomic work facilities will make workers more comfortable and focused, thereby increasing productivity.
Reduced costs: Reduction of injury risk and increasing efficiency will help reduce medical costs and increase company profits.
Increased work motivation: Workers who feel comfortable and safe at work will be more motivated to provide the best performance.

Q: How can the QFD method be applied in other industries and companies?

A: The QFD method can be applied in other industries and companies by:

Conducting a survey: This involves using standard questionnaires to identify complaints in certain limbs and workers' pulse to find out their workload categories.
Analyzing data: This involves using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (Reba) method to assess the level of work posture risk.
Designing ergonomic solutions: This involves designing a new ergonomic work facility that takes into account the principles of anthropometry to achieve ideal work postures.
Prioritizing design: This involves identifying the most important technical characteristics for the helper, such as resistance of materials, welding strength, and vibrations produced.

Q: What are the limitations of the QFD method in designing ergonomic work facilities?

A: The limitations of the QFD method in designing ergonomic work facilities include:

Limited generalizability: The study was conducted in a single company and may not be generalizable to other industries or companies.
Limited consideration of worker needs: The study only considered the needs of warehouse workers and may not have considered the needs of other workers in the company.
Limited design options: The study only designed a single ergonomic work facility and may not have considered other design options.

Q: What are the future research directions for the design of ergonomic work facilities using the QFD method?

A: Future research should aim to:

Conduct a larger-scale study: This will help to generalize the findings of this study to other industries and companies.
Consider the needs of other workers: This will help to ensure that the designed work facilities meet the needs of all workers in the company.
Design and test multiple ergonomic work facilities: This will help to determine the most effective design options for ergonomic work facilities.