Title: Tool selection, ergonomics and economics: a comparison study between traditional and proposed broader ergonomic hand tool evaluation

Authors: Zhonglun Wang; Richard T. Stone; Joseph Yun-Ming Kim; Erik Danford-Klein; Ahmad Abdelhafiz Mumani; Colten W. Fales; Thomas M. Schnieders

Addresses: Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Iowa State University, 3004 Black Engineering, Ames, IA 50011, USA ' Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Iowa State University, 3004 Black Engineering, Ames, IA 50011, USA ' Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Iowa State University, 3004 Black Engineering, Ames, IA 50011, USA ' Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Iowa State University, 3004 Black Engineering, Ames, IA 50011, USA ' Department of Industrial Engineering, Yarmouk University, P.O. Box 566, Irbid, 21163, Jordan ' Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Iowa State University, 3004 Black Engineering, Ames, IA 50011, USA ' Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Iowa State University, 3004 Black Engineering, Ames, IA 50011, USA

Abstract: Modern hand tools are designed to increase productivity, increase product quality, and prevent injuries. If chosen poorly, they can cause severe financial losses by decreasing productivity, increasing defect rates, and causing injuries. These potential losses make it essential to develop an evaluation system that calculates the financial impact of purchasing a hand tool. A literature review revealed that traditional ergonomic hand tool evaluations solely relied on users' responses limiting their ability to make holistic financial decisions. This study used a four-pronged approach, which included tool output, users' responses, user-tool performance, and finished product quality. Sixteen participants (n = 16) tested four categories of electrician power tools in the simulated utility repair operation. Of the four types of tools tested, three had differing recommendations between the traditional and broader evaluations, demonstrating the importance of a broader evaluation. The broader ergonomic hand tool evaluation method was recommended for future hand tool evaluation studies.

Keywords: tool selection; ergonomics; economics; tool evaluation; purchasing decision; tool ergonomics; traditional ergonomic hand tool evaluation; broad ergonomic hand tool evaluation; tool output; users' responses; user-tool performance; finished product quality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFE.2022.120479

International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 2022 Vol.9 No.1, pp.73 - 94

Received: 23 Dec 2020
Accepted: 25 Jun 2021
Published online: 21 Jan 2022 *

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