Title: Ergonomics intervention in an innovative product development through user-centred product design approach - a case study

Authors: K.G. Durga Prasad; P. Krishna Murthy; K.D.S. Sravani; B.L. Manasa; B. Leela Kumari

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering and Technology Program, Gayatri Vidya Parishad College for Degree and P.G. Courses (A), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering and Technology Program, Gayatri Vidya Parishad College for Degree and P.G. Courses (A), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India ' Cyient India Ltd., Hyderabad, Telangana, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada, Kakinada, 533003, Andhra Pradesh, India ' Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada, Kakinada, 533003, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract: In the present competitive market environment, the success of an innovative product depends on satisfaction of its users. To achieve this, user-centred product design (UCPD) approach is more appropriate to develop an innovative product as its basic tenet is to match the design attributes with the user requirements and thereby increasing product quality, usability and comfort as desired by the users. In order to accomplish end user comfort in using a product, it is also necessary to integrate ergonomics into user centred product design. In this paper a methodology has been proposed to reflect the ergonomic needs of users in a product under UCPD approach with the support of QFD, TRIZ and DSM techniques. The methodology is suitable for developing ergonomic products to mitigate the musculoskeletal disorders experienced by users while using the product. A case study is also presented in this paper to illustrate the implementation of the proposed methodology.

Keywords: user-centred product design; UCPD; ergonomics; quality function deployment; QFD; TRIZ; REBA; design structure matrix method.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFE.2024.137118

International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 2024 Vol.11 No.1, pp.107 - 128

Received: 08 Nov 2022
Accepted: 05 Jul 2023
Published online: 01 Mar 2024 *

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