Ergonomics in the Design of Consumer Products in Japan*

Abstract

This paper discusses some characteristics of ergonomics in the design of consumer products in Japan

1.The aims of the Japanese Ergonomics Research Society.

2. Various kinds of ergonomics organizations.

3. The standardization of anthropometric measurement.

4. The activity of some organizations.

5. The purpose of the ‘ manikin ’ in the ergonomics of consumer products.

6. Newly developed instrumentation.

7. The basic research and new methodologies necessary to promote ergonomics research for consumer products.

8. The problem of multivariate function.

9. The relationship between designers, engineers and ergonomics researchers.

10. The multivariate data on ergonomics available for designers or engineers.

11. Some now ideas about ergonomics in the design of consumer products in Japan     

An overview of consumer ergonomics in the United Kingdom

Consumer ergonomics has emerged as one of the mainstream areas of ergonomics research and application. This paper discusses the background to this development and provides a framework for the three special issues of Applied Ergonomics devoted to this topic. The main aspects of current consumer ergonomics research, for example the fields of application, available techniques and relevant criteria, are reviewed by drawing on papers from this special series and other complementary published work. Some criticisms are made relating to the failure to achieve the systematic application of ergonomics in the design process, and a series of recommendations is made as to how the contribution of ergonomics could be made more effective. Finally, the future of consumer ergonomics in considered in the light of three major trends - the increased complexity of products, changes in social climate and forthcoming changes in consumer legislation.     

Kansei engineering as a powerful consumer-oriented technology for product development

Kansei engineering was founded 30 years ago, as an ergonomics and consumer-oriented technology for producing a new product. When a consumer wants to buy something, he/she will have a kind of feeling and image (kansei in Japanese) in his/her mind. If the consumer's feeling could be implemented in the new product, he/she would be more satisfied with the product. Kansei engineering aims at translation of kansei into the product design field including product mechanical function. This is why it is called the consumer-oriented aspect. There are many products in Japan which have applied kansei engineering. Recently, it has also been applied to construction products as well as to community design.     

Ergonomics testing of consumer products 1. General considerations

This is the first of two articles describing how to test consumer products, with special reference to the ergonomics techniques employed. The procedures and methods described are appropriate for the comparative testing of competing brands of a given consumer product. This article covers essential preliminaries to the ergonomics testing programme. It discusses: brands to be tested, aspects of product use for detailed investigation, desirable product characteristics, general principles in brand comparison tests, and the place of physical tests in the brand evaluation programme.     

Pressures and procedures for the design of safe consumer products

An assessment is provided of the current position regarding changes in UK or EEC civil law under which injured parties can obtain redress in respect of injuries caused by defective products. One effect of proposed systems of strict liability in tort will be to shift some of the burden of proof from the injured party on to the producer of the product claimed to have caused injury. It is argued that this is a just and logical change, given the unfairness and anomalies in present systems and the relative abilities of consumers and producers to avoid such incidents and to bear or to offset the cost of the consequences. Cases of apparent misuse of a product by a consumer may frequently be induced by the design of that product and could thus be prevented by more thoughtful design. In order that producers can ensure their own viability and satisfy the consumer market, their products must be safe, efficient, comfortable and satisfying to use, as well as durable, serviceable and realistically priced. One requirement for achieving this has been said to be the input of accident and ergonomics data early in the product development process; the present paper examines this proposition. Evidence is provided by research into the design and manufacture of consumer products for the UK market, carried out at Birmingham University. Examined in particular are the extent to which formal development processes and design safety review procedures are used, and the degree of utilisation of accident, ergonomics, user testing and market feedback data, identifying barriers to the widespread use of these. Safe and ergonomic design of products must aim to be seen as a positive business activity, rather than as a cost-centre. The benefits to a company of a comprehensive design safety programme will more than outweigh the costs given the pressures identified earlier.     

‘1966 and all that’: Trends and developments in UK ergonomics during the 1960s

The 1960s represents a key decade in the expansion of ergonomics within the UK. This paper reviews trends and developments that emerged out of the 1960s and compares these with ergonomics research and practice today. The focus in particular is on the expansion of ergonomics as a discipline within industry, as well as more specific topics, such as the emergence of areas of interest, for example, computers and technology, automation and systems ergonomics and consumer ergonomics. The account is illustrated with a detailed timeline of developments, a set of industrial case studies and the contents of important publications during the decade. A key aim of the paper is to provide the opportunity to reflect on the past and the implications this may have for future directions for ergonomics within the UK.

The paper provides practitioners with an insight into the development of ergonomics in the UK during one of the most important decades of its history. This is especially relevant given the fact that in 2009 the Ergonomics Society celebrates its 60th anniversary.     

Modeling China's energy consumption behavior and changes in energy intensity

China's demand for energy has grown to fuel its rapidly expanding industrial, commercial and consumer sectors. At the same time, China has become the second largest consumer of petroleum products having surpassed Japan for the first time in 2003. The environmental consequences of a continuation of these trends will have global implications. Government policies and consumers have become more environmentally aware, but the ability of governments to formulate policies has been hindered by the lack of data on inter-factor and inter-fuel substitution possibilities. In this paper Allen partial elasticities of factor and energy substitution, and price elasticities of energy demand are calculated for China's industrial economy using a two-stage translog cost function approach for the period 1995–2004. The results suggest that energy is substitutable with both capital and labor. Coal is significantly substitutable with electricity and slightly complementary with oil, while oil and electricity are slightly substitutable. China's energy intensity is increasing during the study period and the major driver appears to be due to the increased use of energy-intensive technology.     

User requirements and the development of products which are suitable for the broad spectrum of user capacities

The identification of user characteristics and requirements is central to the task of the ergonomist since it provides a basis for testing the match between people and the processes, products and places they use. Established methods exist for measuring human physical and performance characteristics but the identification of requirements has received little attention as yet. It is anticipated that progress, which has largely been confined to the area of consumer ergonomics, will accelerate once the connection between poorly designed products and subsequent costly incapacity in the population is more widely recognized. User requirements can provide a clear, testable basis for product development and evaluation when expressed as performance specifications. Problems which may be encountered in the identification of user requirements may be avoided by establishing the patterns of activity prior to discussing the underlying requirements with the user.     

Ergonomics around the world-The United States of America

The history and development of human factors engineering, or ergonomics, and of the Human Factors Society, is traced for the American scene. Selected problems of current interest are given from the fields of aviation, highway safety, architectural design, environmental control, and consumer products. In conclusion, the more significant areas which might occupy specialists in this field during the next decade are emphasized.     

Design and implementation of a participatory ergonomics program for machine sewing tasks

A participatory ergonomics program was designed and implemented to control and reduce workers' compensation costs within an automobile products manufacturing company. Pareto analysis identified a substantial number of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) associated with manual, machine sewing of canvas automobile accessory products. This case study will discuss the elements of the participatory ergonomics program, describe its implementation, highlight intervention measures, and present program results. Specifically, during the period of 1993 to 1996, the participatory ergonomics program played a significant part in reducing the number of MSD claims by approximately 85%, and contributed to an overall reduction in workers' compensation incurred loss costs by approximately 42%.     

A review of:“People and Productivity”. Edited by Robert A. Sutermeister. (McGraw-Hill.) [Pp. 520.] 54s.

Abstract

The benefits for the consumer, and for the practising ergonomist of implementing a marketing strategy designed to increase consumer awareness of ergonomics is discussed with reference to the experiences of ICE Ergonomics, a commercial ergonomics research and consultancy organization based in Great Britain. The marketing strategy, which addresses the areas of publicity, education and practical involvement, forms one part of an integrated marketing strategy now being implemented by ICE.     

The application of ergonomics to consumer product evaluation

Consumer products may be evaluated by technical tests or by ergonomics assessments. If an ergonomics assessment is required, then three types of test are available to the researcher. These are the user trial, the expert appraisal and the performance test. These three methods are described briefly and some advantages, disadvantages and issues arising from each are discussed. It is concluded that although the user trial will always assume an important role for the evaluation of many products, expert appraisals and performance tests can prove to be cost effective methods in certain circumstances. Some controversial areas requiring further research are highlighted.     

World War II and other historical influences on the formation of the Ergonomics Research Society

Little has been written about wartime ergonomics and the role this played in prompting the need for a society dedicated to ergonomics within the UK, namely the formation of the Ergonomics Research Society (ERS) in early 1950. This article aims to fill this gap in our understanding of the history of ergonomics in the UK and provide further details of the types of research undertaken by wartime research groups and committees such as the Institute of Aviation Medicine, Medical Research Council Applied Psychology Unit and the Flying Personnel Research Committee. In addition, the role of societal developments such as wartime links with the USA, the post-war drive to increase productivity and collaboration with industry and the recommendations of government committees in stimulating the work of the ERS are described in detail. This article also offers some reflection on present-day ergonomics in the UK and how this contrasts with the past. STATEMENT OF RELEVANCE: This article will provide practitioners with a historical perspective on the development of ergonomics from its roots in the Second World War. These developments shed light on current trends and challenges within the discipline as a whole.     

Human factors of a microelectronic product: the central heating timer/programmer

The advent of microelectronics has enabled designers to incorporate considerably more functional capability and flexibility into products than was previously possible. Technical capabilities are no longer major constraints and designers are finding it increasingly difficult to choose between a vast range of alternatives. In an effort to narrow the range, designers are turning to behavioural scientists in marketing, ergonomics and psychology to guide them when selecting functions, specifying operating procedures and selecting components. This paper illustrates the application of human factors techniques to the analysis of problems with existing consumer products and to the synthesis of novel designs incorporating advanced microelectronics components. Within this general theme the paper concentrates on the design of a particular product - the central heating timer/programmer.     

Ergonomics and human factors: the paradigms for science,engineering, design,technology and management of human-compatible systems

This paper provides a theoretical perspective on human factors and ergonomics (HFE), defined as a unique and independent discipline that focuses on the nature of human-artefact interactions, viewed from the unified perspective of the science, engineering, design, technology and management of human-compatible systems. Such systems include a variety of natural and artificial products, processes and living environments. The distinguishing features of the contemporary HFE discipline and profession are discussed and a concept of ergonomics literacy is proposed. An axiomatic approach to ergonomics design and a universal measure of system-human incompatibility are also introduced. It is concluded that the main focus of the HFE discipline in the 21st century will be the design and management of systems that satisfy human compatibility requirements.     

Ergonomics and human factors: the paradigms for science, engineering, design, technology and management of human-compatible systems

This paper provides a theoretical perspective on human factors and ergonomics (HFE), defined as a unique and independent discipline that focuses on the nature of human-artefact interactions, viewed from the unified perspective of the science, engineering, design, technology and management of human-compatible systems. Such systems include a variety of natural and artificial products, processes and living environments. The distinguishing features of the contemporary HFE discipline and profession are discussed and a concept of ergonomics literacy is proposed. An axiomatic approach to ergonomics design and a universal measure of system-human incompatibility are also introduced. It is concluded that the main focus of the HFE discipline in the 21st century will be the design and management of systems that satisfy human compatibility requirements.     

品牌视觉形象设计延展性探析

企业在发展、产品在更新、市场在变化,消费者需求日益提高,每个成功的品牌都必须把品牌视觉形象与时代同步。本文主要通过梳理品牌视觉形象的发展脉络和分析当前品牌视觉形象设计的延展趋势,从而提高对品牌视觉形象的认识,优化其品牌视觉形象设计的思维和方法,为现代品牌视觉形象设计提供有效的指导性设计借鉴和理论参考,更好的为品牌视觉形象设计服务。     

The IEA contribution to the transition of Ergonomics from research to practice

The future growth of ergonomics as a scientific discipline will require a greater focus on methods to transition research findings into practice. Whilst the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) and the Federated Ergonomics Societies provide opportunities to promote exchange on ergonomics research and collaboration in research programs, the future sustainability of the domain will be dependent on the provision of ongoing educational opportunities in ergonomics and the transitioning of the research findings into practice. This transition will require greater external focus outside the ergonomics profession in working in collaboration and partnership with other professional associations, governments and international agencies. Practical tools that are targeted towards particular user groups within the community, workplace, and governments will enhance the opportunities for the transition of ergonomics research into practice. Focus on extramural initiatives such as Ergonomics Checkpoints, integration of the ergonomics design process into the International Organisation for Standardization Guidelines, and the incorporation of ergonomics into the World Health Organisation research programs will ensure that the positioning of ergonomics will continue at an international level.     

基于考虑滞后性LSTM模型的电商需求预测

消费者网络购物浏览时间碎片化、对价格更敏感的特征带来滞后性消费。为了掌握顾客消费趋势,通过获取Q企业纸类商品的历史销售数据和消费者购买行为数据,分析消费者行为对销售数据的影响,并利用随机森林分别选取不考虑滞后性和考虑滞后性的特征因子;基于LSTM神经网络建立快消品的需求预测模型;根据Q企业纸类商品的数据进行预测及验证,结果表明考虑滞后性LSTM模型预测相对误差更小,预测精度更高。