title: [Ergonomics and productivity: an example applied to a manufacturing industry].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The survival of manufacturing in the western world also depends on the ability to increase productivity. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to recover the efficiency of all workers suffering from upper limb biomechanical overload disease. Ergonomic methods can be a valuable tool in solving this apparent conflict: operatives'productivity and health.
  
  
  METHODS
  After carrying out an ergonomic education and training programme for all company employees and risk assessment for upper limb biomechanical overload through the OCRA checklist method, a programme of improvements on a production line was planned and tested, mainly based on international and European standards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within approximately 2 years, thanks to changes in workplace layout and organization, a significant reduction of 22.7% in risk level was achieved and, at the same time, a 16% increase in productivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An ergonomic approach based on global, interdisciplinary and participatory principles in the case considered showed that it is possible to match increased productivity with decreased risk. In this specific case application of ergonomic principles during product design was rather poor, which is typical of companies working for third party customers.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Policlinico di Milano - Dipartimento Area della Medicina Preventiva - U.O. CEMOC. epmnatale@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Natale
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Battevi
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vitelli
mesh_terms: D004526:Efficiency; D006804:Ergonomics; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018570:Risk Assessment