Selection of Critical Stress Factors for Enhanced Productivity through Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) Approach  Fulltext 

[ Nupur Kashyap ] - Department of Mechanical Engineering Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, 211004, India
[ Sanjeev Sinha ] - Department of Mechanical Engineering Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, 211004, India

خلاصه مقاله:

Whenever we talk of increase in productivity due to ergonomics it is a general notion that the improvement will be either due to ergonomic redesigning of workstations or ergonomically designed furniture/ work tools suited to the anthropometric dimensions of the worker, resulting in prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in them. Psychological aspects are totally neglected while considering the performance of the worker, although mental factors are as important as physical ones. Productivity of any organisation or manufacturing unit is indirectly related to these factors. Therefore in the present study physical and mental stressors are taken into account that produces fatigue in a worker.
Exertion or effort at high intensities is known as fatigue and is related to diminishing working capacity, which ultimately leads to low productive rates. Eleven factors, for e.g. feeling of insecurity, monotonous job, fewer rest periods during working hours, depression, etc. are addressed for reducing fatigue, using Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM). It is a methodology for identifying and summarizing relationships among specific factors that are assumed to affect the issue or problem. According to the complexity of these factors, they are given relative preferences and are categorized into driver and driven factors depending upon their driving power and dependence. Once the critical factors are known to the management, it can pay proper attention to these parameters and can remove the hindrances in the way of productivity. Thus, it locates the areas where special attention is required which further saves time and money.