Evaluation of Steering Gearbox Station to Improve Industrial Safety and Productivity through Ergonomics

The economic growth of the company depends on the quality and delivery time of the components. The pursuit of new techniques is mandatory to maintain quick delivery time without compromising quality. Ergonomics is one such technique that helps to improve workstation productivity by reorganizing the workspace, changing the sequence in operations, up-gradation of machine tools, reducing operator fatigue, etc. The ergonomic study was performed in a tractor steering gearbox manufacturing unit. In the present work, an ergonomic assessment of the workstation is done. Ergonomics assessment includes RULA assessment and Work-place assessment helped to find out the factors influencing the work station to be in the alert zone. During the observation of base milling operation, the operator needs to clamp and de-clamp the steering box manually by using mechanical tools. Due to which operator feel more fatigue in the wrist and lower-arm position which reduces productivity. These made the operation fall in an alter zone and require immediate action for resolving the problem. Consider all the industrial aspects Hydro-pneumatic intensifier was selected and was enabled to the machine tool. It is seen that the recently structured workstation improved working posture and brought decreased postural stress operator's bodies. The bad working posture of the workstation is eliminated and pushing the workstation to the comfort zone.