title: Development of a decision support system for analysis and solutions of prolonged standing in the workplace.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prolonged standing has been hypothesized as a vital contributor to discomfort and muscle fatigue in the workplace. The objective of this study was to develop a decision support system that could provide systematic analysis and solutions to minimize the discomfort and muscle fatigue associated with prolonged standing.
  
  
  METHODS
  The integration of object-oriented programming and a Model Oriented Simultaneous Engineering System were used to design the architecture of the decision support system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Validation of the decision support system was carried out in two manufacturing companies. The validation process showed that the decision support system produced reliable results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decision support system is a reliable advisory tool for providing analysis and solutions to problems related to the discomfort and muscle fatigue associated with prolonged standing. Further testing of the decision support system is suggested before it is used commercially.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, Melaka, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Isa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Halim
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, Melaka, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hambali
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arep
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, Melaka, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Seri Rahayu
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kamat
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, Melaka, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rohana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abdul Rahman
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pahang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ahmad Rasdan
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ismail
keywords: decision support system; discomfort; ergonomics; fatigue; prolonged standing