Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1975. / Typescript.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1975. / Also available in print.

published_or_final_version / Sociology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Thesis (M.S.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Forest Products. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) plays a crucial role in business success but is particularly vital to the furniture manufacturing industry. Unfortunately, the furniture manufacturing industry suffers from occupational injuries and illnesses resulting from ergonomically poorly designed systems. This thesis’s objective was to better understand HF/E through the furniture manufacturing industry’s managerial knowledge and opinions in order to design more productive, safer, and healthier systems. The study also aimed to raise manager awareness in the industry and introduce the potential HF/E benefits by providing current literature. Sixtyour American furniture manufacturing industry managers participated in a web-based questionnaire survey. The survey revealed that managers’ demographic properties and companies’ characteristics were some factors that affect managers’ awareness, knowledge, and opinions on HF/E. In general, managers were unfamiliar with HF/E and lacked a broad background on and knowledge of HF/E. In addition, companies, particularly small companies, lacked sufficient resources for HF/E.

This study investigates regional average hourly wage differences in the United States furniture industry. County level census data used to compare average wages in the South with average wages in the non-South showed a considerably lower wage structure in the South. Regression models suggest wage variation is strongly influenced by factors related to economic organization, and moderately influenced by labor market characteristics, urbanization, and product type; however, region provides the single best estimate of wages. Dividing the sample into South and non-South subsamples and constructing separate regression models increased the predictive power of the models in the non-South, but failed to predict wage rates in the South. / Master of Science