International Journal of Industrial Engineering, 1(2), 1994, 103-108 
 

      PRODUCTIVITY AND HEALTH ISSUES IN

      THE AUTOMATION OF T-SHIRT TURNING 
 

      Andris Freivalds and Myung Hwan Yun 
 

      Center for Cumulative Trauma Disorders Research

      Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering

      The Pennsylvania State University

      University Park, PA 16802, USA 
 
 

A t-shirt folding operation, subject to a high rate of cumulative trauma disorders, was videotaped and analyzed using MTM-2. Based on the frequency of extreme wrist deviations during the turning phase, a foot-controlled suction device was built to automate the actual turning (inversion) process. A trained operator using the automated turner maintained a standard performance of 12 t-shirts per minute, equivalent to the current performance within the manual turning phase. The remaining inspection and folding elements were left as manual operations. Both tasks could be integrated into the current production line without an increase in the workforce. Thus, productivity need not be compromised in implementing ergonomic solutions in the workplace. 
 
 

Significance:  Any ergonomic redesign of a workplace or job must also consider the resulting effects on productivity. This case study shows how the elimination of critical motions leading to cumulative trauma disorders through properly designed automation can be implemented at minimal  cost to productivity. 
 

K