Search Results (17)

Remanufacturing design is a green design model that considers remanufacturability during the design process to improve the reuse of components. However, traditional remanufacturing design scheme decision making focuses on the remanufacturability indicator and does not fully consider the carbon emissions of the remanufacturing process, which will take away the energy-saving and emission reduction benefits of remanufacturing. In addition, remanufacturing design schemes rarely consider the human ergonomics of the product, which leads to uncomfortable handling of the product by the customer. To reduce the remanufacturing carbon emission and improve customer comfort, it is necessary to select a reasonable design scheme to satisfy the carbon emission reduction and ergonomics demand; therefore, this paper proposes an integrated multi-criteria decision-making method for remanufacturing design that considers the carbon emission and human ergonomics. Firstly, an evaluation system of remanufacturing design schemes is constructed to consider the remanufacturability, cost, carbon emission, and human ergonomics of the product, and the evaluation indicators are quantified by the normalization method and the Kansei engineering (KE) method; meanwhile, the hierarchical analysis method (AHP) and entropy weight method (EW) are used for the calculation of the subjective and objective weights. Then, a multi-attribute decision-making method based on the combination of an assignment approximation of ideal solution ranking (TOPSIS) and gray correlation analysis (GRA) is proposed to complete the design scheme selection. Finally, the feasibility of the scheme is verified by taking a household coffee machine as an example. This method has been implemented as an application using Visual Studio 2022 and Microsoft SQL Server 2022. The research results indicate that this decision-making method can quickly and accurately generate reasonable remanufacturing design schemes. Full article

(1) Background: Lymphedema is a common but underrecognized sequela of cancer treatment. Supermicrosurgical procedures such as lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) and, more recently, lymph node-to-vein anastomosis (LNVA) have emerged as effective options for fluid-predominant disease. In 2024, we began performing robot-assisted LNVA using a next-generation microsurgical robot. This study describes our initial experience, technical insights, and the potential for robotics to extend the boundaries of supermicrosurgery. (2) Methods: Twenty-two consecutive robotic LNVAs were performed by a high-volume supermicrosurgeon at a tertiary center. Preoperative imaging with standard and ultra-high frequency ultrasound was used to identify optimal lymph nodes and veins. Robotic LNVA was performed using the Symani Surgical System, with adaptations for motion scaling, ergonomics, and console control. Intraoperative patency was confirmed by direct washout and/or indocyanine green (ICG) transit. (3) Results: All 22 procedures were technically successful, with 100% intraoperative patency. Anastomosis time improved from 37 to 18 min. Robotic assistance enhanced precision, eliminated tremors, and reduced the technical burden of operating at extreme submillimeter scales. (4) Conclusions: Robotic LNVA is safe, feasible, and efficient. It optimizes current techniques, offering the potential to extend surgical access below the 0.1 mm threshold, with implications for future treatment of lymphatic and possibly intracranial disease. Full article

From the urban sustainability perspective and from the steps essential for regulating/balancing the microclimate features, the creation and maintenance of urban green spaces (UGS) are vital. The UGS include vegetation of any kind in urban areas such as parks, gardens, vertical gardens, trees, hedge plants, and roadside plants. This “urban green infrastructure” is a cost-effective and energy-saving means for ensuring sustainable development. The relationship between urban landscape patterns and microclimate needs to be sufficiently understood to make urban living ecologically, economically, and ergonomically justifiable. In this regard, information on diverse patterns of land use intensity or spatial growth is essential to delineate both beneficial and adverse impacts on the urban environment. With this background, the present study aimed to address water requirements of UGS plants and trees during the non-rainy months from Panaji city (Koppen classification: Am) situated on the west coast of India, which receives over 2750 mm of rainfall, almost exclusively during June–September. During the remaining eight months, irrigating the plants in the UGS becomes a serious necessity. In this regard, the daily water requirements (DWR) of 34 tree species, several species of hedge plants, and lawn areas were estimated using standard methods that included primary (field survey-based) and secondary (inputs from key-informant survey questionnaires) data collection to address water requirement of the UGS vegetation. Monthly evapotranspiration rates (ET_o) were derived in this study and were used for calculating the water requirement of the UGS. The day–night average ET_o was over 8 mm, which means that there appears to be an imminent water stress in most UGS of the city in particular during the January–May period. The DWR in seven gardens of Panaji city were ~25 L/tree, 6.77 L/m² hedge plants, and 4.57 L/m² groundcover (=lawns). The water requirements for the entire UGS in Panaji city were calculated. Using this information, the estimated total daily volume of water required for the entire UGS of 1.86 km² in Panaji city is 7.10 million liters. The current supply from borewells of 64,200 L vis a vis means that the ET_o-based DWR of 184,086 L is at a shortage of over 2.88 times and is far inadequate for meeting the daily demand of hedge plants and lawn/groundcover. Full article

The relationships between humans and the environment have recently been incorporated into ergonomics in an effort to broaden the discipline’s traditional scope. Green ergonomics is an emerging field of study that has discovered links between people’s well-being and a sense of connection to nature. The study aims to build a conceptual model to identify the readiness factors for green ergonomics in healthcare organizations, which are the primary focus point of the current study. To determine the readiness factors, a review of the literature and a survey of healthcare experts’ opinions were conducted. The healthcare professionals validated the identified readiness factors. Data for this study were gathered using a closed-ended questionnaire and scheduled interviews. The study employed total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) methodology and cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis to address why and how the factors interact and prioritize the identified readiness factors. Ten green ergonomics readiness factors were identified in this study. Design principles (F4), green buildings (F1), ergoecology (F2), audit working practices/risk assessments (F3), and professional practice (F6) had strong driving power and weak dependence, thus being identified as key factors or driving factors for green ergonomics in healthcare organizations. Although the study primarily focused on the readiness factors for green ergonomics in healthcare organizations, the scope could eventually be expanded to explore more areas. Academics and other stakeholders will have a better understanding of the key drivers and the readiness factors for healthcare green ergonomics. In this study, the total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) and cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis for healthcare together are proposed as an innovative approach to address the green ergonomics concept. Full article

Leisure activities are known to be especially important for the health of people with disabilities. In Belém, PA, an Amazonian city in Brazil, a nonprofitable organization has promoted leisure ridings in bicycles for those people in Utinga State Park, a large green area for physical and leisure activities. The handcrafted bikes have a sidecar attached for users with disabilities which are ridden by trained volunteers. Since such bikes have been empirically manufactured, they require some minor improvements in safety, comfort, and handling, and verification of structural strength. Therefore, ergonomic, modal, and forced vibration analyses assessed the user’s comfort and safety and a structural analysis with the use of strain gauges evaluated the bicycle’s structural strength. Initially, a numerical modal analysis was performed using the finite element method, and the modal model obtained was validated by an experimental modal analysis employing shaker excitation. ISO-2631-based evaluations of forced vibration and human body comfort were conducted regarding whole-body vibration in vehicles and mechanical equipment. Vibration measurements at the position of the rider and sidecar occupant were obtained during rides on the bicycle and, according to the results, in general, when subjected to loads, the bicycle showed low stress levels far from the yield stress of the material, promoting an excellent safety factor in relation to its structural integrity. The modal, comfort, and forced vibration analyses revealed a mode of vibration in the sidecar that caused discomfort to the back of the users. Ergonomics analysis pointed out changes in the handlebars, the bicycle seat, the coupling between the sidecar and the bike, and the dimensions of the sidecar will provide greater comfort and safety. This paper presents and discusses the proposed modifications to both bicycle and sidecar. Full article

The study and implementation of ergonomics are vital for the growth of industries and improvement in work cultures. Sustainable manufacturing cannot be achieved without the implementation of human-factor ergonomics. Ergonomics is used to analyze the link between research studies and industrial practices in order to maximize the efficiency of processes by keeping in view the well-being of workforce. Designing tools, tasks, machines, systems, jobs, and settings for efficient, safe, and successful human usage involves applying knowledge about human behavior, abilities, and limitations. Workers are the backbone of the manufacturing economy. The review outlines significant advancements in preventing ergonomic problems during the design stage of the manufacturing process to achieve sustainability. The bibliometric analysis is used to identify the literature base for ergonomics. To maximize the benefits of ergonomics and to integrate sustainable practices, various methods are required to organize existing processes and technologies. The human-centered design identifies problems and aligns the output with the intended objectives of sustainability. The goal of human factors and ergonomics is to successfully integrate people into systems and develop the manufacturing processes around the well-being of workers and sustainability principles. Similarly, ergoecology, eco-ergonomics, and green ergonomics are frequently used for sustainable manufacturing. Achieving sustainability in manufacturing is not possible without considering human ergonomics. Ergonomists frequently research management, planning, and other topics to increase the efficiency of the manufacturing process. Efficient worker performance and quality of life can be enhanced through work design, management, and organizational ergonomics. Human ergonomics relates sustainability with cognitive variables such as situational awareness, human reliability, and decision-making abilities. This review explains the role of human factors and ergonomics for sustainable manufacturing. Full article

The role of public urban green spaces (UGSs) in providing various ecosystem services, especially those related to the physical and mental health of city dwellers, has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. While research has analyzed shifts in UGS visitation and changes in people’s attitudes, there remains a noticeable gap in our understanding of the necessary adaptations required within UGS environments. This paper presents the survey results of Vilnius city residents (Lithuania) conducted in the final days of the quarantine in 2021 and discusses the findings in the broader context of other studies. The survey is centered on preferences for UGS qualities clustered into four groups. The results provide empirical evidence that UGS users highly prioritize ergonomic and ecological characteristics related to comfort and naturalness. However, the preferences differ between those who live close to UGS and those who live further away. In contrast, aesthetic and social qualities are of relatively lesser significance for all. Similar preferences have been identified in international studies, underscoring the global nature of this phenomenon that urban planners must consider when designing or enhancing local UGS. Full article

The implementation of lean manufacturing to increase productivity often neglects the impact on the environment and the well-being of employees. This can result in negative consequences such as environmental harm and poor employee satisfaction. To address this issue, an integrated ergo-green-lean conceptual model was developed in the literature. However, no case study has been conducted to support this model. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the practical outcomes of implementing the integrated framework in an automobile parts industry. Key performance indicators (KPIs) were identified, including ergonomic risk score, job satisfaction, carbon footprint emission both from direct energy consumption and material wastage, cycle time, lead time, die setup time, and rejection rate. Various assessment techniques were employed, such as the rapid entire body assessment (REBA) with the Standard Nordic Questionnaire (SNQ), job stress survey, carbon footprint analysis (CFA), and value stream mapping (VSM) to evaluate the KPIs at the pre- and post-intervention phases. The results demonstrate significant improvements in job satisfaction (49%), improved REBA score of 10 postures with very high risk numbers by 100%, a 30.3% and 19.2% decrease in carbon emissions from energy consumption and material wastage, respectively, a 45% decrease in rejection rate at the customer end, a 32.5% decrease in in-house rejection rate, a 15.5% decrease in cycle time, a 34.9% decrease in lead time, and a 21% decrease in die setup time. A Python regression model utilizing sklearn, pandas, and numpy was created to assess the relationship between process improvement and the chosen KPIs. Full article

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted nations globally to adopt lockdown policies, resulting in a substantial shift in people’s travel behavior. This pandemic has influenced micro-mobility, an emerging urban transportation mode, including in the Philippines. However, a limited quantifiable study is dedicated to understanding the evolving micro-mobility use in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to determine the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our future intention to use micro-mobility, particularly e-scooters/bikes, and to explore how hedonic and environmental motivations influence the decision-making process of its adoption. An extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was employed, with 152 Filipinos answering an online questionnaire that was distributed using a convenience sampling approach. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) showed that the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the awareness of environmental issues and the negative impact of cars, thereby significantly influencing the usage intention of e-scooters/bikes. In addition, social norms and perceived behavioral control partially mediated the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and the intention to use micro-mobility. Meanwhile, the magnitude and significance of motivation variables were inconclusive, although they confirmed a positive relationship with attitude. The findings of this study could help provider firms and policymakers devise evidence-based policies concerning micro-mobility and promote its usage, particularly in developing countries. Full article

At present, it is unclear how ergonomic factors of underwear affect men’s work, lifestyle, physiology and psychology, and whether the demand factors of some special groups will affect the development of underwear. This study analyzed the underwear preferences of male groups working in Chinese and European universities from the perspective of ergonomics. The survey results confirm that ergonomic factors significantly affect men’s preference for underwear, including subjective style preference and objective comfort. These problems come from style structure, materials, functional design and size standards. In general, this typical male group needs underwear with good support in standing posture and good comfort in sitting state. This study also provides important information and evidence for the analysis and prediction of group characteristics and demand-oriented product development. Designing underwear products according to consumer needs and avoiding waste of resources from inefficient development has a positive impact on the green development and recycling of textiles. Full article

Every space used by a person should suit the anthropometric and biomechanical characteristics of the users. Poorly designed premises and types of equipment have a negative impact on human health. Furniture, as a device for daily use, can in the long term, with inadequate dimensions, significantly affect human health. In this work, we define the secular development of selected anthropometric dimensions of the Slovak population. Based on the positive development, we point out the dimensional and strength characteristics of bed and resting furniture and the dimensional and strength characteristics of seating furniture, which anthropometric dimensions influence. At the same time, we note the need to update the calculation formulas for pricing individual products, which will have an economic impact on wood furniture production. Based on the results, we can conclude that in most of the monitored characteristics of the Slovak population, such as height and bodyweight, the elbow height when sitting, palm width, hand length, length of the forearm to fingertip, buttock–knee length and knee height—sitting with shoes, affect the dimensions of the bed and seating furniture. This implies the need to update the current standards for the general Slovak population. Full article

Due to the actual level of carbon emissions, climate change causes disruptions in business process development and also affects human health. The obvious solution, which will ensure a future for the coming generations, is related to sustainable development (SD). Furthermore, by the effective intervention of ergonomics in organizational processes, risk management and social aspects will improve. In this article, we argue that it is not enough to only define an effective approach to greening an organization—managers and leaders need effective tools to monitor and control the implementation of the proposed approach. Thus, with this article, we aim to bring theoretical and applicative contributions to SD management and to propose a conceptual model for green companies based on an integrated management strategy and a complex assessment model (the LeadSUS assessment methodology). In the first phase, the proposed methodology is developed based on qualitative theoretical research, analysis, comparison, deductions, and conceptualization. The research results highlight important issues for defining the Green Enterprise Model, which is based on elements of the integrated strategy definition. In the second phase, the model, together with an associated methodology for the assessment of SD maturity level, supports the process of monitoring and controlling the implementation of the strategy. This approach is intended to create the conditions for the integrated management strategy and green enterprise configuration models. Furthermore, three case studies validate the proposed approach. Full article

Open-plan office (OPO) layouts emerged to allow organizations to adapt to changing workplace demands. We explore the potential for OPOs to provide such adaptive capacity to respond to two contemporary issues for organizations: the chronic challenge of environmental sustainability, and the acute challenges emerging from the great COVID-19 homeworking experiment. We apply a socio-technical systems perspective and green ergonomics principles to investigate the relationship between an OPO environment and the occupants working within it. In doing so, we consider relevant technical and human factors, such as green technology and employee green behavior. We also consider how a green OPO might provide non-carbon benefits such as improving occupant well-being and supporting the emergence of a green organizational culture. Our investigation highlights several avenues through which an OPO designed with green ergonomic principles could benefit occupants, the organizations they work for, and the natural environment of which they are a part and on which they depend. We find reason to suspect that green OPOs could play an important role in sustainable development; and offer a research agenda to help determine whether it is true that OPOs can, indeed, exemplify how “going green” may be good for business. Full article

The demand for water is predicted to increase significantly over the coming decades; thus, there is a need to develop an inclusive wastewater decontaminator for the effective management and conservation of water. Magnetic oxide nanocomposites have great potentials as global and novel remediators for wastewater treatment, with robust environmental and economic gains. Environment-responsive nanocomposites would offer wide flexibility to harvest and utilize massive untapped natural energy sources to drive a green economy in tandem with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Recent attempts to engineer smart magnetic oxide nanocomposites for wastewater treatment has been reported by several researchers. However, the magnetic properties of superparamagnetic nanocomposite materials and their adsorption properties nexus as fundamental to the design of recyclable nanomaterials are desirable for industrial application. The potentials of facile magnetic recovery, ease of functionalization, reusability, solar responsiveness, biocompatibility and ergonomic design promote the application of magnetic oxide nanocomposites in wastewater treatment. The review makes a holistic attempt to explore magnetic oxide nanocomposites for wastewater treatment; futuristic smart magnetic oxides as an elixir to global water scarcity is expounded. Desirable adsorption parameters and properties of magnetic oxides nanocomposites are explored while considering their fate in biological and environmental media. Full article

The communication of an automated vehicle (AV) with human road users can be realized by means of an external human–machine interface (eHMI), such as displays mounted on the AV’s surface. For this purpose, the amount of time needed for a human interaction partner to perceive the AV’s message and to act accordingly has to be taken into account. Any message displayed by an AV must satisfy minimum size requirements based on the dynamics of the road traffic and the time required by the human. This paper examines the size requirements of displayed text or symbols for ensuring the legibility of a message. Based on the limitations of available package space in current vehicle models and the ergonomic requirements of the interface design, an eHMI prototype was developed. A study involving 30 participants varied the content type (text and symbols) and content color (white, red, green) in a repeated measures design. We investigated the influence of content type on content size to ensure legibility from a constant distance. We also analyzed the influence of content type and content color on the human detection range. The results show that, at a fixed distance, text has to be larger than symbols in order to maintain legibility. Moreover, symbols can be discerned from a greater distance than text. Color had no content overlapping effect on the human detection range. In order to ensure the maximum possible detection range among human road users, an AV should display symbols rather than text. Additionally, the symbols could be color-coded for better message comprehension without affecting the human detection range. Full article