Title: Using qualitative interviewing to examine human factors in warehouse order picking: technical note

Authors: Eric H. Grosse; Shane M. Dixon; W. Patrick Neumann; Christoph H. Glock

Addresses: Carlo and Karin Giersch Endowed Chair 'Business Management: Industrial Management', Technische Universität Darmstadt, Hochschulstr. 1, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany ' Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Human Factors Engineering Lab, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada ' Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Human Factors Engineering Lab, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada ' Carlo and Karin Giersch Endowed Chair 'Business Management: Industrial Management', Technische Universität Darmstadt, Hochschulstr. 1, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany

Abstract: The effect of human factors on the performance of labour-intensive order picking processes has thus far been relatively understudied in the operations and logistics management literature. This technical note offers guidance to researchers and managers regarding how qualitative methods can be used to assess human factors in order picking. The paper first discusses manual tasks in this process and highlights where human factors influence the outcomes of time, quality and worker health. This discussion is used to inform the development of a qualitative example interview guide to investigate the order picking system. The paper provides step-by-step guidance for using interviewing to assist researchers and logistics managers that emphasises considering human factors in the planning of order picking processes. Using qualitative methods to integrate human factors into order picking processes can help to avoid workers' exposure to musculoskeletal disorders and improve the quality and efficiency of order picking systems.

Keywords: qualitative research; semi-structured interviews; ergonomics; human factors; warehouse order picking; manual tasks; time; quality; worker health; musculoskeletal disorders; warehousing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2016.075211

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2016 Vol.23 No.4, pp.499 - 518

Received: 14 Oct 2014
Accepted: 17 Dec 2014
Published online: 08 Mar 2016 *

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