Construction of a survey to assess workload and fatigue among AMT operators in Mexico.
Operators of machinery classified as Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) are exposed to high levels of workload and fatigue. However, only few studies have been conducted on this topic in Hispanic-American countries workers. Several instruments be used to assess workload and fatigue; however, only few of them have been adapted to Spanish language. This paper reports on the development and validity testing of a survey instrument in Spanish, aiming to subjectively assess workload and fatigue among AMT operators in Mexico.


METHODS
After an exhaustive literature review in search of already available measurement instruments, they were adapted for content and later translated into Spanish; a pilot test was conducted to evaluate validity and reliability; afterwards appropriate modifications were made to the testing instruments. Final version of the instrument was applied to a group of 121 operators of CNC lathes. Reliability was analyzed using KMO and Cronbach alpha indices.


RESULTS
For the assessment of workload, both NASA-TLX and ISTAS 21 methods were incorporated to the survey instrument. As for fatigue assessment tools, these were SOFI-S, FAS and OFER questionnaires. RESULTS show KMO value and Cronbach alpha above 0.6.Conclusions. The survey instrument as designed, allows the collection of reliable and valid data regarding workload and fatigue among AMT operators in Mexico.
Instituto de Ingeniería y Tecnología.Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Av. Del Charro 610. C.P. 32310 Ciudad Juárez Chihuahua, México. luis.hernandez@uacj.mx
Juan Luis
JL
Hernández Arellano
Gabriel
G
Ibarra Mejía
J Nieves
JN
Serratos Pérez
Jorge Luis
JL
García Alcaraz
María Julia
MJ
Brunette
D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008800:Mexico; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload