The concept Industry 4.0 brings several technologies that could be useful for the factories and manufacturers to become more competitive. One of these technologies is the robots in collaborative environments which operate fenceless together with the operators. The interest of these robots in the manufacturing sector has been getting more attention in recent years. These implementation types require the organizations to determine their readiness levels to have success with the robot. Currently, the successful implantations of the robots in collaborative environments in industry are few, and the success factors must be mapped. Therefore, investigating the potential barriers, enablers and establishing a road map for a case company could be useful to fill this gap and assist the organizations with what is necessary to accomplish a successful implementation. A case study was conducted at a manufacturing company in Sweden, which allowed for insights into how an actual organization approaches the situation. The case company organization was in the process of acquiring a robot in a collaborative environment, hence, the data from the case company was relevant to answer the research questions. Furthermore, the data was collected using interviews, observations, and documents at the case company. A literature review was performed to provide information regarding the common factors within a RCE implementation, which also was a base for the interview guide. The data was analysed by comparing the theoretical framework and with the empirical findings to bring forth a conclusion and to establish a road map for the case company. A road map was created with sets of questions to address the identified barriers and enablers found in both literature and at the case company. The constructed road map contains questions concerning the areas of knowledge about the robot in collaborative environments, communication & information, organizational aspects, and resistance towards the change. By addressing the questions developed in the framework, the organization could get an advantage when considering the implementation of the robot. For the case company, as they are further along in the process, the road map could indicate how well they have performed in current projects. Furthermore, it could generate a more successful project the next time.

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Aktionskräfte stellen wesentliche Risikofaktoren für die Entstehung von Erkrankungen im Finger-, Hand- und Armbereich dar. Daher ist die Erfassung und Analyse von Aktionskräften ein wichtiger Bestandteil der ergonomischen Bewertung von Arbeitsplätzen. Zur Erfassung von Aktionskräften, insbesondere in der Automobilproduktion, existiert bisher jedoch weder eine einheitliche noch eine systematische Vorgehensweise. Es mangelt an konkreten Forschungserkenntnissen über den Messaufbau, die Messdurchführung und die Messauswertung von Kraftfällen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird deshalb ein erster Schritt unternommen, um die Erfassung von Aktionskräften auf Basis wissenschaftlich gestützter Erkenntnisse zu standardisieren. Hierzu werden insgesamt vier empirische Untersuchungen (zwei Vorstudien und zwei empirische Laborstudien) durchgeführt. In der ersten Studie (Kapitel 4) erfolgt eine Identifizierung der vorhandenen Arten von Kraftaufwendungen in verschiedenen Fertigungsbereichen der Automobilproduktion im Rahmen einer Dokumentenanalyse. In der zweiten Studie (Kapitel 5) wird der bedeutendste Fertigungsbereich ausgewählt, um darin eine Auszählung der Kraftaufwendungen anhand einer standardisierten Beobachtung definierter Arbeitsprozesse durchzuführen. Die dritte Untersuchung (Kapitel 6) ist als empirische Laborstudie konzipiert. Darin wird die technische Erfassung von Aktionskräften unter idealisierten Bedingungen ohne menschlichen Einfluss erprobt. In der vierten Untersuchung (Kapitel 7), ebenfalls als empirische Laborstudie konzipiert, werden spezifische Kraftaufwendungen im Labor systematisch durch Probanden nachgestellt und gemessen. Dabei wird das Vorgehen zur Durchführung und Auswertung von praxisnahen Kraftmessungen unter menschlichem Einfluss evaluiert. Die Erkenntnisse der Arbeit helfen dabei, bestehende Forschungsdefizite aufzuarbeiten und zu beheben. Sie stellen ferner eine Handlungshilfe für betriebliche Kraftanalysen sowie eine Orientierung für zukünftige Forschungsarbeiten dar. / Action forces have been identified as risk factors. Therefore, the collection and analysis of action forces is an essential part of the ergonomic evaluation. Up to now, there was a lack of a standardized and systematic approach to evaluate action forces, especially in the automotive production. Thus, in the present thesis a methodical approach is described to evaluate action forces systematically. The thesis is divided into four studies. The first study contains the identification of the variety of action forces in the different manufacturing areas of automotive production. The second study describes the detailed analysis of action forces in the assembly shop, which is the manufacturing area with the highest count of action forces in the automotive production. The third study describes the direct measurement of action forces in laboratory conditions. The action forces are applied by a testing machine. The fourth study consists of the direct measurement of action forces, which are applied by subjects. Thereby, the methodical approach to perform direct measurements has been evaluated. The findings of the thesis can be used as a guideline, to evaluate action forces in the automotive production. Also the findings highlight the potential for further research projects.

The advance of automation in industry has meant that in recent years companies have begun to look for other ways to improve the efficiency of their productivity. Automation is present in all types of activities in industry, however, there are certain activities that cannot be fully automated due to the difficulty to develop them. Therefore, this activity must be handled by the worker and their safety must always be considered. In this aspect, ergonomics is in charge of studying the comfort and safety of the workers. Numerous methods of studying ergonomics can be found today, but the one that this project will focus in is the Hand and Arm method (HARM) which nowadays is performed manually by ergonomists. This method requires a great deal of effort on the part of ergonomics professionals in order to obtain reliable and accurate results. In addition to this disadvantage, the time required to perform each evaluation is also high. As the HARM method is an observational evaluation method, the study must sometimes be made by more than one ergonomist to reach a valid conclusion. This project presents the development of a system that automates one such ergonomic evaluation method called the Hand-Arm Risk Assessment Method (HARM). For this purpose, high-precision sensors are used to measure the different motions of a user's joints, as well as pressure sensors that measure the forces exerted by a worker while performing an industrial activity. This project is presented as a solution that improves both accuracy and reliability and reduces the time needed to perform the HARM method evaluation. The created tool serves as a link between the ergonomist and the various hardware systems in use, and it features an intuitive user interface that enables both data collection and visual depiction of the evaluation's findings. The topic of sustainable development, which is being addressed as a result of the development of the tool, is another crucial aspect of this project. Some of the objectives outlined in the UN's sustainable development guidelines have been met as a result of the intimate relationship between ergonomics and sustainability. Among these goals are good health and well-being (Goal 3), work and economic growth (Goal 8), industry, innovation, and infrastructure (Goal 9), gender equality (Goal 5) and reduced inequalities (Goal 10). / <p>Utbytesstudenter, Universidad de Málaga, Spanien</p>

Occupational upper extremity disorders have become a major issue in modern society. Poorly designed workplaces, high job demands, and incorrect work-habits can lead to the development of upper extremity disorders (UEDs) in the workplace. This issue not only causes health-relatedproblems for the individual but also forms a significant economic burden on society due to sickleaves, healthcare and untimely exit of affected individuals from the workforce. The risk of developing occupational UEDs varies with different professions. The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) has recognized significant occupational health risks associated with the hairdressing profession. It has been estimated that UEDs are five times more prevalent amongst hairdressers than other professions. Qualitative risk assessment tools based on self-reports and observation have been used to identify the risks of developing UEDs with hairdressing profession before. However, a quantitative risk assessment tool that provides objective data on work posture is more precise and objective than self-report and observation. This data can help to identify the risks of developing UEDs associated with each hairdressing task. Furthermore, it can enable self-assessment of workload and posture awareness by providing feedback to the user. Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) as part of a wearable system developed at KTH were used in this study to investigate the risks of developing UEDs for hairdressing students. The feasibility of using a feedback function for providing posture awareness was also evaluated by comparing the measurements obtained with and without using the feedback function. Twelve hairdresser students were enrolled in the study. The percentage of time for elevated angles above 30°, 60° and 90° for arms, and above 45° or less than 0° for the trunk flexion is presented. In addition, 10th and 90th percentiles (°) of arms and trunk angular distribution is presented. The result of a statistical analysis performed on data with and without feedback was used to evaluate the effectivity of using the feedback function in preventing the development of occupational UEDs. A System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire was used to evaluate the overall usability of the system. The result of this study confirms that the hairdressing profession falls in the high-risk category for developing UEDs. The use of this technical system has enabled a precise risk assessment evaluation of each hairdressing task. Such data can be used as a foundation for improving the ergonomic design of the workplace. The feasibility of using the feedback function as a prevention tool on the individual level is highly dependent on the individuals’ motivation and their attitude towards changing their work habits. However, the results in general, indicate a decrease in the abduction angle (°) for both left and right arm when the feedback function is used. For example, the 90th percentile abduction angles (°) for left arm (all 12 subjects) during the drying part of one fundamental work-cycle decreased from a value of 60.4° to 58.2° when the feedback function was used. The 90th percentile abduction angles (°) for the right arm during the same part of the fundamental work-cycle decreased from an angle of 53.1° to 51.4°. The SUS score of 75.6 indicates good overall usability for the system. / Besvär i det muskuloskeletala systemet i överkroppen som uppkommer på grund av påfrestande arbetsställningar och icke-optimala arbetsvanor blir allt vanligare i det moderna samhället. Besvären orsakar inte bara hälsorelaterade problem för individen utan även en avsevärd ekonomisk börda för samhället. Risken för att utveckla skador i överkroppen varierar med olika yrken. Europeiska arbetsmiljöbyrån (EU-OSHA) har identifierat betydande hälsorisker i samband med frisörarbete. Det har uppskattats att besvär i överkroppen är 5 gånger mer förekommande hos frisörer jämfört med andra yrken. Det finns många forskningsprojekt som har använt kvalitativa riskbedömningsverktyg, baserade på självrapportering och observation, som identifierar riskerna med att utveckla skador i överkroppen bland frisörer. Ett kvantitativt riskbedömningsverktyg som ger objektiva data om arbetsställning är dock mer exakt än självrapportering och observation. Ett sådant verktyg kan hjälpa till att identifiera risken för skadeutveckling i överkroppen. Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) är en del av ett bärbart mätsystem som har utvecklats påKTH. Systemet användes i denna studie för att identifiera risken för skadeutveckling i överkroppen bland frisörer. Riskidentifieringen gjordes genom att mäta vinkel på armar och rygg. Mätsystemet har även en inbyggd återkopplingsfunktion som uppmärksammar användaren om deras kroppsställning. Effektiviteten av att använda återkopplingsfunktionen för att förebygga jobbrelaterade skador utvärderades genom jämförelse av mätningar som erhållits med och utan återkopplingsfunktion. Tolv frisörstudenter deltog i studien. Överkroppspositionen definierades av vinklar över 45° eller mindre än 0° från en position där ryggen är rak. Abduktionsvinklar över 30°, 60° och 90° mättes för armar. Tidsperioden för dessa vinklar d.v.s. hur lång tid överkroppen hölls i dessa vinklar räknades. Armar och överkroppvinklar för 10:e och 90:e percentilen (°) samt resultat av en statistisk analys som utfördes på data samlade med och utan återkopplingsfunktionen presenterades. Analysen utfördes för att utvärdera hur effektiv återkopplingsfunktionen är för att förhindra arbetsskadeutveckling. En System Usability Scale (SUS) frågeformulär användes för att utvärdera systemets övergripande användbarhet.Resultatet av denna studie bekräftar att frisöryrket faller i högriskkategorin för arbetsskadeutveckling. Användningen av detta bärbara mätsystem har möjliggjort en exakt riskbedömning för olika arbetsuppgifter. En sådan information kan användas som grund för att förbättra ergonomiska förhållanden på arbetsplatser. Effektiviteten av återkopplingsfunktionen som ett förebyggande verktyg på individnivå är starkt beroende av individernas motivation och deras inställning till att ändra sina arbetsvanor. Emellertid anger resultaten en generell minskning av armvinklar (°) för både vänster och höger arm när återkopplingsfunktionen används. Till exempel har den 90:e percentil vinklarna (°) för vänsterarm (alla 12 personer) under hög belastning minskat från ett värde av 60.4° till 58.2 °. Den 90:e percentil vinklarna (°)för höger arm under hög belastning har också minskat från ett värde av 53.1° till 51.4°. SUS-poängen på 75.6 indikerar en bra användbarhet för systemet

The fashion industry is going through a radical change with new technologies. Footwear designers are taking advantage of CAD-software to create groundbreaking models. However, it is not only from a design point of view that the field is changing, 3D-printing technology is becoming an alternative for manufacturing footwear against the contaminating mass-producing system adopted by the fashion industry, challenging the traditional trading system of the products. Starting with a market analysis and user’s research and incorporating later CAD modeling, 3D-scanning and 3D-printing, the following project develops a design workflow for 3D-printing footwear and presents the readers with fresh designs to compete in the market.

To stay competitive in today's market, organizations focus on efficiency to reduce costs. Since there are still processes that are manually handled, there is a risk of affecting workers health during streamlining. Volvo CE Braås are currently working with a takt time of 35 minutes throughout their facility. They are looking to implement a takt flow system on their Pallet breakdown disassembly line to unify the systems within the company. The current situation of the pallet breakdown consists of variation, ergonomic issues, inconsistencies, disturbances and lay-out problems. Main problems have remained unidentified. The goal of the thesis has been to determine how optimization as well as, takt time implementation affects the workers. The aim of the thesis has been to analyze their current situation, present relevant changes to be made and to improve the ergonomics of the employees. Methods such as flow mapping, surveys, gemba walks and interviews have contributed to a basis of understanding. The methods have, together with selected theory, contributed to important knowledge and understanding of the disassembly system, that has led to conclusions and recommendations regarding the impact of optimization and takt time implementation on ergonomics. By using ergonomic guidelines together with discrete event simulation, an identification of human factors when optimizing has been detected. For Volvo CE to successfully implement takt time, several optimizations are needed together with relevant investments to ensure that the ergonomic values are kept on an appropriate level when the frequency of tasks increases. As a conclusion, to optimize a system which has a direct impact on the employees, there is a need to investigate the ergonomic values of today together with values after optimization. Optimization can not occur without investing in tools.

Low back pain (LBP) remains the most prevalent and costly work-related disability worldwide and is directly associated with "physical" risk factors prevalent in manual material handling (MMH) tasks. Back-support exoskeletons (BSEs) are a promising ergonomic intervention to mitigate LBP risk, by reducing muscular exertion and spine loading. The purpose of this work was to help better understand both the "intended" and "unintended" consequences of BSE use on physical risk factors for LBP, as an essential prerequisite for the safe and effective implementation of this technology in actual workplaces. The first study assessed the effects of using two BSEs on objective and subjective responses during repetitive lifting involving symmetric and asymmetric postures. Wearing both BSEs significantly reduced peak levels of trunk extensor muscle activity and reduced energy expenditure. Such reductions, though, were more pronounced in the symmetric conditions and differed between the two BSEs tested. The second study quantified the assistive torque profiles of two passive BSEs using a computerized dynamometer, with both human subjects and a mannequin. Clear differences in torque magnitudes were evident between the BSEs, though both generated more assistive torques during flexion than extension. The third study estimated the effects of BSE use on lumbosacral compressive and shear forces during repetitive lifting using an optimization-based model. Using both BSEs reduced peak compression and anteroposterior shear forces, but these effects differed between tasks and BSE designs. Reductions in composite measures of trunk muscle activity did not correspond consistently with changes in spine forces when using a BSE. The fourth study quantified the effects of two passive BSEs on trunk stability and movement coordination during repetitive lifting. Some adverse effects on stability were evident for pelvis and thorax movements and coupling of these body segments, suggesting that caution is needed in selecting a BSE for a given MMH task. Overall, we found that the efficacy of BSEs is design- and task-specific. Important safety features of the exoskeletons were also identified, providing insights on their performance boundaries. Overall, the BSEs tested were more effective and safer in tasks closer to the mid-sagittal plane and with moderate degrees of trunk flexion. / Doctor of Philosophy / Low back pain (LBP) remains the most prevalent and costly work-related disability worldwide, and the risk of LBP is related to "physical" risk factors common in manual material handling (MMH) tasks. Back-support exoskeletons (BSEs) are a new ergonomic intervention that may reduce the risk of occupational LBP, by reducing muscular efforts and loads on the spine. For the safe use of BSEs, though, it is critical to better understand both the "intended" and "unintended" consequences of this emerging technology. In this dissertation, such consequences of BSE use were evaluated in the context of repetitive lifting tasks. The first study assessed the efficacy of two BSEs in terms of physical demands during repetitive lifting tasks involving a range of torso bending and twisting. Wearing both BSEs reduced the physical demands on back muscles and decreased energy consumption. Larger reductions, though, were observed in forward bending and such reductions differed between the two BSEs tested. The second study measured the amount of support provided by two BSEs using a new measurement method, which was examined for both human subjects and a mannequin. Clear differences in the BSE support were evident between the BSEs, and both devices generated more support during torso forward bending than returning upright. The third study estimated the effects of BSE use on low back loadings during repetitive lifting using a computational model. Using both BSEs reduced loads on the low back region, though such reductions were task-specific and depended on the BSE design. The fourth study quantified the effects of the BSE use on torso stability and movement patterns during repetitive lifting. Some adverse effects on stability were evident for lower and upper torso, suggesting that caution is needed in selecting a BSE for a given MMH task. Findings from this work show the potential benefits of BSEs for use in MMH tasks, yet such benefits can depend on the BSE design and the MMH task they are used for. Further, BSE use can lead to adverse effects, especially with tasks involving extreme working postures.

Le travail des chefs d’établissement (ChE) a évolué au gré des politiques éducatives. Ces derniers deviennent des agents du changement ou managers dans des établissements autonomes soumis à l'obligation de résultats. En France en 2006, les ChE rencontrent de nouveaux défis avec les réseaux ambition réussite (RAR) au collège. Une situation inédite qui pose une question nouvelle aux ChE : comment piloter des équipes composites dans un collège en RAR ? Le parti pris dans cette thèse est celui de l’ergonomie de l’activité qui questionne un paradoxe : d’un côté, la focale est mise sur le développement du travail collectif dans les établissements et son impact sur les performances, d’un autre côté sont négligés l'organisation du travail à laquelle se livrent les cadres pédagogiques comme le travail d'organisation des professeurs pour faire vivre ces collectifs. Le but ici est de montrer l’importance du travail réel pour comprendre les conditions et difficultés des cadres pédagogiques pour organiser le travail des professeurs. / Headmasters' work has been changing with educational politicies. Headmasters are becoming agents for change or managers in schools wich are independent and under an obligation of results. In France in 2006, headmasters are challenged with the reform of Ambition success networks. An unprecedented situation that raises the question : how to manage heterogeneous teams ? This thesis uses the ergonomic approach to the activity in order to study a paradox : on the one hand, the focus is put on collective work and its impact on performance, on the other hand, the organisation of the work by headmasters and the work of organisation by teachers are ignored. The aim is to show the importance of actual work in order to understand conditions and difficulties of the work of organisation in wich headmasters are engaged.