IH02-RaymondKim
From IEOR 170 Spring 2007
Contents |
[edit] Overview
Recently, the Joint Genomics Institute in Walnut Creek approached the IEOR department with a project idea: developing ergonomic solutions for their workers to reduce work-related injuries. By using the Joint Genomics Institute as a case study, I hope to develop a universal framework to reduce work-related injuries. Final output for this project may not necessarily be a tangible product to solve the problem, but rather, a workspace design to prevent future injuries.
[edit] The Joint Genomics Institute
The Joint Genomics Institute is funded mainly by the Department of Energy and works jointly with the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. Their purpose is to identify the genome sequence for various organisms such as microbes, bacteria, etc. which will possibly lead to breakthroughs in the production of environmentally-friendly and efficient alternative fuel sources. The organization is non-profit and its purpose is to serve the community through their gene sequencing. All of their information is publicly released.
[edit] Problem Description
The general problem is that injuries have been occurring on the production line with the front-line employees. Though the tasks themselves do not require any heavy machinery or heavy lifting, employees are still constantly diagnosed with minor injuries such as back pain, neck strain, etc. As a result, many employees are forced to take leaves of absence, thereby disrupting the production line and halting progress.
[edit] Target User Group
The main users are the front-line employees of the Joint Genomics Institute. Most of them are lab technicians and assistants who process DNA through a various series of steps. Recurring tasks include: loading and unloading machines, transporting DNA trays, and recording data. Throughout the day, employees alternate between working from a chair or standing up. From a preliminary observation, it is uncertain how these problems arise, given the lack of any strenuous activity. Further observation however, may reveal otherwise.
[edit] Problem Context and Forces
As mentioned earlier, it is initially unclear as to how these problems arise throughout the day given the lack of any physically demanding activity. It will definitely be necessary however to observe the users throughout the day and monitor their activities while constantly keeping an open line of communication as emphasized by the “Contextual Inquiry” article. My initial thoughts lead me to believe that many of the injuries are cause by repetitive, unconscious movements such as reaching for an item far from the user, lifting incorrectly, etc. Environmental forces will most likely consist of the general workspace of the user and placement of materials and equipment.
