Increased Productivity

Productivity

Ergonomics positively impacts both safety and work efficiency.  Jobs that are are not as physically demanding, require less-awkward postures, or involve fewer repetitive actions, result in employees who are more productive, more efficient, and better able to deliver high-quality output. 

There are numerous studies that support this result.  A few are summarized below.

  • 2003 study from the International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics found that a printed circuit assembly factory saved $574,560 in a single year on parts rejection costs after implementing ergonomics improvements. In addition, they saw a reduction in the rejection rate, an increase in monthly revenue, and improvements to productivity and quality.
  • An ergonomics study in a metal manufacturing facility focused on improving jobs that presented high injury risk to the upper extremities of employees.  A series of ergo-related improvements were made to these jobs.  Researchers found that these changes led to a 22% reduction in the number of parts that had to be re-worked and a 45% drop in the number of parts that had to be totally rejected.
  • Research was conducted in a medical products manufacturing facility, to determine the impact of implementing a comprehensive ergonomics process into its operations.  It was found that these improvements led to productivity increases (8% less re-work), as well as less material waste (5%), an increase in quality (10%), and a 7% reduction in employee reports of musculoskeletal discomfort.
 
Contact Dr. Gary Allread, SRI-Ergonomics Program Director, to learn more: