Like many other companies, BSH China Chuzhou Factory is facing the challenge of an aging workforce and maintaining the health and performance of its employees. Ergonomics in work design is therefore a priority. In 2021, the company introduced the EAWS® (Ergonomic Assessment Worksheet) process as the standard for ergonomic assessment. In collaboration with MTM (Shanghai), BSH engineers have been trained and certified to use EAWS® effectively. In addition, digital analysis tools were introduced with the support of MTM’s Digital Solutions business unit to make the assessment even more efficient.
Empower employees with creative ideas
By setting annual targets and implementing a series of improvement measures, BSH China Chuzhou Factory succeeded in minimizing ergonomic risks in its work processes. The direct involvement of employees also had a positive effect, as they often suggested creative solutions themselves. The EAWS® experts took care of the quantitative analysis, evaluation and subsequent realization of the potential. By 2023, all workplaces at BSH China Chuzhou Factory will have been assessed with EAWS®.
Next Step: An intuitive, real-time view of ergonomic risks
The next initiative focuses on the visual representation of EAWS® assessment and improvement status. The goal is an intuitive and real-time display of ergonomic risks. Current efforts are also aimed at reducing ergonomic risks through cost-effective automation methods.
The ME (Manufacturing Engineering) department is responsible for the application of the EAWS® assessment. The head of the department, Sarialioglu Ahmet, strongly supports EAWS® to promote ergonomic work design: “EAWS® provides a comprehensive assessment of workstations, and the efficiency of the software-based analysis significantly accelerates consensus among stakeholders through objective, quantitative results.
MTM ergonomics experts provide support in China and worldwide
At the 2024 MTM China Forum for Industrial Engineering, which took place on May 16th in Suzhou, Ms. Liu Jingjing and Ms. Yuan Shanrong from BSH China Chuzhou Factory shared their positive experiences with the ergonomics assessment using EAWS®. After the forum, Manuela Ostermeier, Head of MTM Partnerships and one of the EAWS® experts of MTM ASSOCIATION e. V., was available to answer the questions of the engineers and employees on site. Liu Jingjing, who is responsible for the EAWS® application in the cooling plant, for conducting EAWS® analyses and for promoting ergonomic improvement projects, emphasized: “Whenever we encounter challenges, the MTM ASSOCIATION e. V. and the One-MTM partner in China provide prompt support. We are confident that we will be able to move forward with our initiatives in the future.
Further information on the EAWS® ergonomics assessment tool can be found at https://www.eaws.it/.
The EAWS® form in various languages can be found at mtm.org.
Read more about the 2024 MTM China Forum for Industrial Engineering here.