Lab+Ten

It has been documented that millions of people, especially workers suffer from various muscular skeletal injuries which often results in the loss of time from work. The conditions that these individuals acquire are the direct result of activities that create stress or strain on a particular part of the body. Moreover these disorders are serious enough to cause individuals to lose the ability to perform some forms of physical activity comfortably. There are numerous tasks that result in eventual levels of strain/discomfort lifting, using a computer, handling instruments, repetitive movements, awkward postures and continuous contact stress to the same part of the body. Ergonomics has become the most effective tool for reducing illness and injuries due to the performance of general tasks while also increasing human beings overall experiences. Ergonomics can be defined as a science of creating designs that meet the needs and demands of the particular user. The most effective ergonomics designs involve the input of those who actually use the product in order to effectively create a product that will satisfy and complement those who use it regularly. It examines the good and bad elements that characterize users experiences and then designs a product in a consideration of these factors. Such attention to design has been found to drastically reduce and in some cases even eliminate some of the conditions that were mentioned above. Comprehensive ergonomics programs/designs have been found to have a significant impact on the environment and experience of human beings- ensuring comfort, ease and a positive experience overall. As seen in the video providing comfort and simplicity through designs that are able to adjust to users preferences, eliminative restraints and constraints so that products are orderly and accessible are important ergonomic factors.
 * Write three paragraphs to define the term 'ergonomics'. (3 paragraphs) **

What is the 'Gilbreth system of motion analysis' (1 paragraph) ** The Gilbreth system of motion analysis is a system of measuring and calibrating behavior and movements to determine which tasks are unnecessary and repetitive. It is oriented towards identifying the //__one best method__// through a motion analysis that studies the nature of motion and fatigue. This analysis was first applied to the world’s oldest mechanical trade- bricklaying, and identified the most unnecessary movements- stooping, walking and reaching. Those tasks and activities that were unnecessary and expended the most energy and were deemed excessive and consumed a lot of time were linked to fatigue. Hence, this system of analysis was used to eliminate waste by applying the motion analysis in order to increase productivity. Who was Henry Ford influenced by the efficiency expert, Frederick Taylor? (2 paragraphs) ** Henry Ford founder of Ford motors was committed to creating the most simplest car ever and in order to produce them cheaply he decided it would be necessary to change the way cars were built. In order to this he reorganized his factory and the way his workers worked. The efficiency expert Frederick Taylor- had a tremendous influence on Fords new approach, since Taylors commitment was to speeding up workers. Timing workers, noting their every movement and rearranging approaches to carrying out various activities became his specialty and this in essence is how he influenced Ford. At the Ford automobile factories Taylorism meant the division of automobile production tasks into simple and repetitive steps. Workers could be taught to do any job/task quickly- everything would be broken into small steps done by many individuals which would allow for tasks to be performed much more quickly. What are the four basic principles of McDonaldization? (List of 4) ** The four basic principles of McDonaldization: Efficiency: the best possible approach to  Predictability: consistency Calculability: quantity versus quality Non-Human technology: deskilling, machines instead human beings