Mapping the state of the art of ergonomics within logistics

• Published in: Scientometrics 2016-10, Vol.109 (1), p.85-101
• Main Authors: Loos, Mauricio Johnny, Merino, Eugenio, Rodriguez, Carlos Manuel Taboada
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bibliographies; Bibliometrics; Computer Science; Data analysis; Data processing; Descriptive research; Documents; Electromyography; Ergonomics; Forearm; Human factors; Information Storage and Retrieval; Intervention; Library Science; Logistics; Mapping; Materials handling; Order picking; Physical workload; Qualitative analysis; Scientific papers; Supply chains; Working conditions; Workload
• ISSN: 0138-9130; 1588-2861
• DOI: 10.1007/s11192-016-1960-z

There is a growing need for businesses to pay attention to human well-being, providing people with the conditions necessary for meeting organizational goals, which depend on logistical, production, and supply chain processes functioning as a whole. In that light, the present work seeks to construct a mapping of existing academic publications regarding ergonomics within the field of logistics, and assemble a bibliographic portfolio of the most relevant and applicable works, in the opinion of the researchers. Towards this end, a bibliometric analysis was carried out with the goal of gaining insight as to the most-recurring topics: authors, articles, periodicals and keywords in this field. This work is characterized as exploratory-descriptive research; besides this, it employs mixed qualitative and quantitative data analysis by way of the Knowledge Development Process—Constructivist intervention instrument (ProKnow-C). Resulting from this, 15 relevant and 512 reference articles were selected, which went on to form the bibliographic portfolio. Upon completion of bibliometric analysis of the articles and references composing the bibliographic portfolio, the following evidences was concluded: the academic journals International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Ergonomics and Applied Ergonomics ; the articles titled “Precision of measurements of physical workload during standardised manual handling. Part I: Surface electromyography of m. trapezius, m. infraspinatus and the forearm extensors” and “Ergonomic evaluation of complex work: A participative approach employing video–computer interaction, exemplified in a study of order picking”; the keywords “Human Factors”, “Supply Chain”, “Material Handling”, “Logistics” and “Ergonomics”; and the most-cited authors being the following: Neumann, W. P.; Marras, W. S.; Winkel, J.; Hansson, G. Å.; Skerfving S.; Mathiassen, S. E., and Medbo, L. T. Once the results are unique, they are appropriate only for the particular case, so it cannot be recommended for other contexts. The ProKnow-C process, however, is general and can be used in any context.