Ergonomics Workshop

 

“Quantitative Approach to Selected Ergonomics Problems”

An ergonomic work system is a work system which involves four components, namely “human,” “machine/equipment,” “environment,” and “work method,” with its objectives including the enhancement of worker safety and the maximization of system productivity and/or efficiency. If the four system components optimally interact with one another, the desired system output/performance can then be achieved. It has been observed that several ergonomics problems can be defined and represented by mathematical models. As such, the problem solution can be obtained using appropriate quantitative analysis techniques. This workshop is intended to demonstrate how selected ergonomics problems can be mathematically modeled and how the optimal solutions can be determined. Quantitative analysis techniques such as mathematical programming, heuristics, and genetic algorithms (GA) will be introduced and discussed. Examples of the ergonomics problems that will be explained at the workshop include single-objective workforce scheduling, bi-objective workforce scheduling, auditory alarm location, manual assembly line design, and vehicle routing problem with manual materials handling.

Speaker: Assoc Prof Dr Suebsak Nanthavanij

 Suebsak Nanthavanij received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Chulalongkorn University ( Thailand) and both master’s and doctoral degrees in industrial engineering from The University of Texas at Arlington (USA). Presently, he teaches at the Engineering Management Program, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thammasat University ( Thailand). He served as the president of the Ergonomics Society of Thailand (EST) during 2004-2009. Since 1997, Dr. Nanthavanij has been the chairperson of the national technical committee on ergonomics standards. He also serves as an editorial board member of several international journals and is an editor of the Asian Journal of Ergonomics. Dr. Nanthavanij has conducted and supervised research projects covering several areas of industrial ergonomics. He has extensive experience in industrial consulting. His current research interest is applications of operations research in ergonomics, particularly to model ergonomics-related problems and develop effective and efficient solution procedures.