Method for managing ergonomic risk exposure in manufacturing

• US 7,457,678 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2006
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Smith, David Curtis, Pidduck, Andrea K., Gardner, Richard Jay, Gaul, Peter J., Eggleston, Chuck, May, Amy, Amell, John R., Smith, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartman, Jr.; Ronald D.
• Application Number:
  US11/557,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20080109271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 700/97, 705/7
• US Class Current: 700/97
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0635 Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities

Abstract

A system and method of planning an operational task of a workplace collects data related to at least one task. An ergonomic risk score of each task is generated. A determination is made if the ergonomic risk score is acceptable. An option is provided to a user to proceed with the plan if the ergonomic risk score is acceptable. An option is provided to the user to redesign at least a portion of the plan.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising a processor and a user interface configured to assist a user to plan operational tasks of a workplace, the computer system receiving and storing data related to at least one task of the workplace entered by the user through the user interface, the computer system having functionality to generate an ergonomic risk score for each task, determine if the ergonomic risk score is acceptable, provide option to the user to continue planning if the ergonomic risk score is acceptable, and provide option to the user to redesign at least a portion of the plan if the ergonomic risk score is not acceptable.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the workplace is a manufacturing environment.

3. The computer system of claim 2 wherein the at least one task is related to production of a product.

4. The computer system of claim 3 wherein the option to the user to redesign at least a portion of the plan is to redesign the product.

5. The computer system of claim 3 wherein the option to the user to redesign at least a portion of the plan is to redesign the at least one task.

6. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the workplace is an environment requiring physical activities.

7. The computer system of claim 1 entering data related to lifting, hand or arm stress, working overhead, pushing or pulling, bending, and kneeling associated with each task.

8. A computer system comprising a processor and a user interface configured to assist a user to plan operation tasks of a workplace, the computer system receiving ergonomic risk data related to a task;

generating an ergonomic risk score for the task;

determining if the ergonomic risk score is acceptable;

storing the ergonomics risk score associated with the task and proceeding with production if the ergonomic risk score is acceptable;

redesign of the task if the ergonomic risk score is unacceptable; and

generating a production schedule having job assignments and job priorities based on acceptable ergonomics risk score.

9. The computer system of claim 8 further comprising dividing a construction project into a plurality of tasks.

10. The computer system of claim 8 further comprising:

tracking daily accumulations of ergonomics risks by individual workers on the task during production;

entering and storing the daily accumulations of ergonomics risks by individual workers on the task during production in a computer program; and

making adjustments in job assignments based on the stored daily accumulations of ergonomics risks by individual workers.

11. The computer system of claim 8 wherein entering ergonomic risk data associated with the task comprises entering data related to lifting, hand or arm stress, working overhead, pushing or pulling, bending, and kneeling associated with the task.

12. A computer implemented method of planning an operational task of a workplace, the computer:

collecting data related to at least one task;

generating an ergonomic risk score of each task;

determining if the ergonomic risk score is acceptable;

providing option to a user to proceed with the plan if the ergonomic risk score is acceptable; and

providing option to the user to redesign at least a portion of the plan if the ergonomic risk score is unacceptable.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising dividing a construction project into a plurality of tasks.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

storing the ergonomics risk score associated with each task; and

generating a production schedule having job assignments and job priorities based on the ergonomics risk scores.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

tracking daily accumulations of ergonomics risks by individual workers on each task during production;

entering and storing the daily accumulations of ergonomics risks by individual workers on each task during production in a computer program; and

making adjustments in job assignments based on the stored daily accumulations of ergonomics risks by individual workers.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein entering data related to a task further comprises entering ergonomic risk data associated with the task.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein entering ergonomic risk data associated with the task comprises entering data related to lifting, hand or arm stress, working overhead, pushing or pulling, bending, and kneeling associated with the task.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

entering data related to a redesigned task;

generating an ergonomic risk score of the redesigned task;

determining if the ergonomic risk score of the redesigned task is acceptable;

proceeding with production if the ergonomic risk score of the redesigned task is acceptable; and

redesign of the task if the ergonomic risk score of the redesigned task is unacceptable.