Ergonomics and effective production systems

3 Ergonomics and effective production systems 5 Production development within Volvo Powertrain 6 Experiences of the transition from parallel to serial production 8 Simulation as a tool Material exposure and packaging 9 Advice for practitioners 11 References The National Institute for Working Life is a national centre of knowledge about working life issues. The Institute is commissioned by the Swedish government to carry on research and development, disseminate information, and hold advanced, specialised training courses. The institute's prime objective and mission is to contribute actively to a working life that offers good conditions and development opportunities for women and men. We work to promote a healthy working environment that is adapted to people's different physical and mental needs and capacity. This we do in collaboration with the social partners and professionals who are actively involved in issues concerning working life. Our research focuses on areas such as occupational health, the labour market and employment, labour legislation, work organisation , ergonomics and strain, physical and chemical health risks, integration and diversity, and development processes in working life. We endeavour to ensure that our research is multidisciplinary and bene-fi ts people in their working lives. Please visit www.arbetslivsinstitutet.se for more information. Here you can read about current research, subscribe to our newsletters, borrow books and other literature from our library, order books or download reports. You will also fi nd the addresses to our offi ces and e-mail links to our 400 staff. Since 2002, the production ergonomics research team at the Institute for Working Life, in close collaboration with Volvo Powertrain in Skövde and Chalmers University of Technology, has investigated the opportunities for creating industrial workplaces that are both effective and healthy. This project, which is funded by Vinnova, has resulted in a series of research reports as well as a doctoral thesis. – see reference list on page 11.