The Role of Ergonomics in Suporting Supply Chain Performance in Manufacturing Companies: A Literature review

Abstract

Nowadays companies are required to work more productive yet maintain good quality. To increase productivity, company needs a conducive effort to optimize the work system. Supply chain management (SCM) is one form of competitive advantages that is applied to every industrial system. There are many factors which can influence the supply chain performance (SCF).Ergonomics is deemed to be one of significant drivers for SCF. This paper proposes and discusses the concepts related to ergonomics which is considered as macro ergonomics in supply chain system. SCM has been seen as macro ergonomics concerning on organization, people, technology, information and resources. This paper shows the importance of ergonomics at the inbound logistics (includes receiving, storing, inventory control and internal distribution management) and outbound logistics (the activites to get the finished product to customer) which are regarded as the critical supply chain activities. A scientific literature review on ergonomics as a critical determinant for SCF is discussed and provided as a theoretical contribution for further research related to the role of ergonomic to support supply chain performance.