Industrial design and ergonomics go hand in hand. When we talk about industrial design and its effectiveness, user-friendliness comes to mind. Why? Because mere designing a product is not your aim. Rather it is to design a product that is user-friendly and easily adaptable.
Ergonomics is all about incorporating elements in designs that help in improving the lives of the users. Your industrial design should target the working population. It should deliver results while reducing the cost. A good industrial design also enhances the productivity and quality of work.
International Labour Organisation or ILO estimated that about 2.3 million workers die due to occupational accidents and work-related diseases. Musculoskeletal disorders caused by work conditions and can be fatal. ILO found in a study that workers have the risk of MSD even when the exposure to non-ergonomic work condition for 25% of the working hours or less.
Work environment affects the performance and health of workers for decades. We are witnessing ground-breaking technological enhancement which allows us to collect real-time data across various real-time data and analyse the same. Research data reveals that work conditions are causing health damages to workers.
The growing demand for workplace safety has emphasised on more ergonomic industrial design. If you look at the work conditions of workers or professionals, they use one or more product or tool while working. From workstations to machines, work involves the use of industrial products.
In a study conducted on dentists, it was found that over 46% of dentists across the world had health impacts caused by working environment. Similarly, 50% of office workers in various industries stated that they have physical and psychological impacts due to ergonomic issues in the workplace.
Ergonomic design helps in reducing all the workplace issues that affect the workers and professionals. Not only can it release the pressure on their body reducing the risk of MSD but also decrease the psychological impact of the workplace.
The core focus of any business is to boost revenue and sales. The business also takes note of another factor – added brand value. Most businesses have a notion that ergonomic designs do not contribute to any of the above-said ways. But that is not the truth. If you consider the long-term benefits of ergonomic designs, the cost of incorporating is practically nil. Why? Let's check out what you will get.
Rejection by users at an earlier development stage is a huge risk for any product. It is reduced by ergonomic design.
Ergonomic products offer a better user experience which results in higher sales, customer satisfaction and brand establishment.
It decreases the number of returns and warranty claims.
As the ergonomic product is more intuitive and user-friendly, this helps in minimising the need for after-sales support.
By analysing the market, consumers and tasks, you can identify product design ideas along with ways to make it ergonomic. The design team can identify the latest needs of customers and innovation opportunities. Ergonomics improves the usability of the product and makes it durable than non-ergonomic designs. When you can enhance health, safety & user-friendliness along with your profits, there is nothing to lose.