Work smarter not harder! Ergonomics in a lean business environment

Boots Manufacturing are currently implementing lean manufacturing into their factory production operations and this paper will demonstrate how ergonomics and lean share the same common goals. By applying lean principles to ergonomics problem solving exercises, we have developed improvements that not only have a dramatic impact on reducing ergonomics risk exposures but also generate significant value benefits to the business. This paper will describe how we have used detailed process activity mapping and value stream management techniques to make changes to work processes which support the objective to achieve process excellence throughout the company.