Ever assembled a bookcase or disassembled a lawnmower? Those tiny hardware packs sure give hands a workout trying to tighten and loosen multiple screws in awkward positions for hours! Now imagine repeating those motions 8000 times per shift building machinery. Hand and arm strain sets in mighty quick.
Plant assemblers face constant battles with fatigue. Uncomfortable positions, sheer repetition, heavy torque requirements, and time pressures team up threatening health and quality. How might we ease the burden through ergonomic tooling? Read on for insights.
What Causes Arm Overuse Injuries?
In a perfect world, workers could clamp parts at chest level using gentle, balanced motions with microbreaks scheduled every hour. But in reality, production needs dictate pace and placement. Assemblers kneel, reach overhead, apply heavy forces, grip tightly for leverage, and repeat identical pushes/pulls all shift long.
Stressing tissues past their limits eventually backfires through three types of ergonomic arm injuries:
1. Tendon inflammation from overuse – Tendonitis named “itis” as in SWOLLEN
2. Nerve compression causing numbness – Carpal tunnel’s inconvenient twin brother, Cubital tunnel
3. Muscle tears from excessive loads – Strains such as tennis elbow from yanking mangoes…I mean pulling wrenches
While proper training and safety protocols help reduce risk, a fourth solution exists – choose better designed tools! Engineering controls like weight balancing and power assistance physically change the workload rather than just warning “be careful”.
How Electric Tools Alleviate Strain
Trade ratchets and adjustable pliers for power screwdrivers when facing hundreds of fasteners daily. Programmable electric torque tools quite literally ease the twist.
With preset torque and depth settings, power tools automatically stop once target tightness registers, no judgemental guessing or “one last umph”. Assemble after assemble, accuracy guarantees proper tension without overexertion while an LED signals successful completion.
Electric precision saves forearms the fatigue of manual motions. No straining against stubborn threads or flesh tearing slips. Continuous rotations of the wrist give way to simple placements and gentle pressure on the trigger.
Studies confirm power tools slash peak hand force and final push effort by nearly 85% versus manual methods! While initial tool cost runs higher, electric ergonomics pays back through staff retention and preventing lost time incidents.
Torque Arms Further Alleviate Strain
Okay okay, so electric screwdrivers reduce TORQUE strain nicely. But what about static muscle effort just holding heavy assemblies suspended during production? Arms still ache after an hour.
Enter torque arms… an extra “arm” to share the load.
Torque arms consist of spring balanced articulating jibs which counterbalance tool weight. Assemblers handle the actual electric driver almosteffortlessly while the arm bears the brunt holding everything stationary.
Varying arm configurations suit left or right hand use and different workspace envelopes. Custom designs fit special applications like automobile or aircraft manufacturing.
So in effect, torque arms isolation operator muscles from tool forces and static loads over extended shifts. Lifting, gripping, and maneuvering burdens transfer from personnel to calibrated mechanical supports.
Think exhaling finally while that firefighting backpack gets removed after hours suppressing wild flames. Your fatigued shoulders and neck welcome sweet relief. Now envision power tools and torque arms together – an ergonomic dream team!
Flexible Assembly Optimizes Ergonomics
Electric torque screwdrivers, nutrunners, and DC pulse tools headline capabilities at Flexible Assembly Systems. Paired with gravity balancer arms or stationary subjects, their precision torque control limits overexertion injuries through thousands of uniform tightening cycles.
But we customize the approach around each client’s needs through:
- Ergonomic Risk Analysis – We quantify which tasks pose highest muscle and tendon risks using established decision criteria like frequency, loads, postures, and rest allowance.
- Process Simulation – Next we mockup the assembly sequence with subject equipment using our staff to experience real workshop dynamics. Assessment here determines optimal styles and brands of torque arms for the application.
- Material Flow Consulting – Workstation layout, adjustable chairs/desks, lift assists, and component storage all aim to minimize awkward positions.
- Safety Review – We examine equipment guarding, emergency stops, tag out policies, and personal protective equipment.
- Testing & Validation – Finally we perform trial runs while monitoring individual fatigue through psychophysics and rapid upper limb assessment scales before approving the engineered process.
Why settle for assembly methods developed 80 years ago? Leverage Flexible Assembly’s expertise modernizing manual tasks through integrated electric torque and ergonomic technologies. Keep your team smiley faced building products while preventing lost time and quality issues. Safety plus efficiency works smarter!
