Investigation of the altered influence of physical stress by the use of ergonomically optimized forging tongs

authored by: David Schellenberg, Mareile Kriwall, Malte Stonis, Bernd Arno Behrens
Abstract: Work-related illnesses and the resulting employee absences can have a major impact on productivity and competitiveness, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises. Particularly in the forging industry, the manual handling of forged parts leads to high physical stress and thus to frequent illnesses of the musculoskeletal system, especially of the hand-arm system. One possibility to counteract this circumstance is the use of ergonomic forging tongs. In the study presented here, the influence of ergonomic forging tongs on the physical stress of forging employees was investigated by simulation and experiment and compared to conventional forging tongs. Within the simulation and the experimental investigation, forging parts and forging tongs were varied. In the simulation, an ergonomics assessment of the forging situation could be evaluated using the Ergonomic Assessment Worksheet. In the experimental study, gripping force measurements and calorie measurements were used to determine the impact of handling the forging tongs on the forging employees. The results show that the use of the new ergonomically optimized forging tongs can lead to a significant physical relief for the forging employees. The knowledge gained from the ergonomically developed concepts can also be transferred in other industries.
Organisation(s): Institute of Metal Forming and Metal Forming Machines
External Organisation(s): Institut für integrierte Produktion Hannover (IPH)
Type: Article
Journal: Production Engineering
Volume: 17
Pages: 883-892
No. of pages: 10
ISSN: 0944-6524
Publication date: 12.2023
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Mechanical Engineering, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1007/s11740-023-01203-9 (Access: Open)
: Details in the research portal "Research@Leibniz University"

BibTeX

@article{08664301830c40dca316b3f8a3ff665a,
title = "Investigation of the altered influence of physical stress by the use of ergonomically optimized forging tongs",
abstract = "Work-related illnesses and the resulting employee absences can have a major impact on productivity and competitiveness, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises. Particularly in the forging industry, the manual handling of forged parts leads to high physical stress and thus to frequent illnesses of the musculoskeletal system, especially of the hand-arm system. One possibility to counteract this circumstance is the use of ergonomic forging tongs. In the study presented here, the influence of ergonomic forging tongs on the physical stress of forging employees was investigated by simulation and experiment and compared to conventional forging tongs. Within the simulation and the experimental investigation, forging parts and forging tongs were varied. In the simulation, an ergonomics assessment of the forging situation could be evaluated using the Ergonomic Assessment Worksheet. In the experimental study, gripping force measurements and calorie measurements were used to determine the impact of handling the forging tongs on the forging employees. The results show that the use of the new ergonomically optimized forging tongs can lead to a significant physical relief for the forging employees. The knowledge gained from the ergonomically developed concepts can also be transferred in other industries.",
keywords = "Ergonomic, Forging, Forging tongs, Physical stress",
author = "David Schellenberg and Mareile Kriwall and Malte Stonis and Behrens, {Bernd Arno}",
note = "Funding Information: The IGF project 20505 N/1 of the Forschungsvereinigung Forschungsgesellschaft Stahlverformung e.V. was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection BMWK via the AiF within the framework of the program for the promotion of joint industrial research (IGF) based on a resolution of the German Bundestag. The authors would like to take this opportunity to express thanks for the financial and organizational support of this project. Furthermore, the authors would like to thank the industrial partners in this research project.",
year = "2023",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1007/s11740-023-01203-9",
language = "English",
volume = "17",
pages = "883--892",
journal = "Production Engineering",
issn = "0944-6524",
publisher = "Springer Verlag",
number = "6",
}