Cognitive Ergonomics of Assembly Work from a Job Demands–Resources Perspective: Three Qualitative Case Studies

Matilda Wollter Bergman, Cecilia Berlin, Maral Babapour Chafi, Ann-Christine Falck and Roland Örtengren
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Matilda Wollter Bergman: Department of Industrial and Materials Science, Division of Design & Human Factors, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
Cecilia Berlin: Department of Industrial and Materials Science, Division of Design & Human Factors, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
Maral Babapour Chafi: Department of Industrial and Materials Science, Division of Design & Human Factors, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
Ann-Christine Falck: Department of Industrial and Materials Science, Division of Production Systems, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
Roland Örtengren: Department of Industrial and Materials Science, Division of Production Systems, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-30

Abstract: In manufacturing companies, cognitive processing is required from assembly workers to perform correct and timely assembly of complex products, often with varied specifications and high quality demands. This paper explores assembly operators’ perceptions of cognitive/mental workload to provide a holistic understanding of the work conditions that affect cognitive demands and performance. While the physical loading aspects of assembly work are well known, most empirical literature dealing with cognitive/mental loading in manufacturing tends to examine a few particular aspects, rather than address the issue with a holistic system view. This semi-structured interview study, involving 50 industrial assembly operators from three Swedish companies, explores how assemblers perceive that their cognitive performance and well-being is influenced by a wide variety of factors within the context of mechanical product assembly. The interview transcripts were analysed using a priori coding, followed by bottom-up Thematic Analysis. The results indicate that a variety of systemic effects on assemblers’ cognitive performance can be classified as job demands or resources. Quite often, the absence of a resource mirrors a related demand, and “good assembly conditions”, as described by the interviewees, often re-frame demands as desirable challenges that foster motivation and positive feelings towards the work. The identified demands and resources stem from task design, timing, physical loading, intrinsic and extrinsic motivators, social teamwork and the product’s “interface” design. Despite organisational differences and conditions between the three companies that took part in the study, the results are largely consistent.

Keywords: cognitive ergonomics; mental workload; manual assembly; work environment; cognitive performance; human factors; occupational ergonomics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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