Evaluation and systematic analysis of ergonomic and work safety methods and tools for the implementation in lean production systems

Abstract

According to the VDI guideline 2870, Lean production systems represent an effective structure for cascading strategic objectives into methods and tools. The primary focus in a Lean production system is the elimination of waste. Besides the known lean methods, human factors and ergonomics (HFE) methods can contribute to this focus. Therefore, HFE methods have to be implemented into the structure of LPS which is achieved by designing a new principle. In this paper, relevant methods in the field of HFE for the new principle are identified and systematically structured. Therefore, a literature research was conducted to identify the relevant methods. As a result, 242 HFE methods and tools were identified. However, the further analysis of the methods and tools showed that only 90 of those were applicable in a LPS. Because of the high number of the methods and tools, a classification was done to give the methods a structure.